Looking Back: Sony’s original MDR-3L2 headphones are a key part of the nostalgia surrounding the company’s iconic TPS-L2 Walkman. As interest in wired headphones grows among teens, Sony has revived the MDR-3, combining a retro design with modern features, though at something of a premium over comparable on-ear models.
The new MDR-3R looks almost identical to the 3L2 that shipped with the first Walkman. Rather than sacrifice modern functionality for nostalgia, though, Sony swapped the 3.5mm plug for USB-C and added an inline remote and microphone for easy playback controls and hands-free calls.
In an age when the choice is usually between earbuds and large, ear-covering headphones, Sony says the MDR-3R is the lightest on-ear headset in its current lineup, weighing just 38g without the cable (which, at 1.2 meters, is noticeably shorter than the original’s).
Sony also recreated the original packaging and manual and included removable orange and blue foam earpads. The 23mm drivers are unchanged too, so the sound should be close to the original.
Read our Legends of Tech feature:
Sony Walkman, The First Personal Entertainer
The original MDR-3L2 shipped with Sony’s TPS-L2, first released in Japan in 1979 for ¥33,000 (roughly $150 at the time, or well over $600 in today’s money). The TPS-L2 was the first affordable, truly portable cassette player and launched the iconic Walkman line.
Before the Walkman, listening to music was largely considered a communal activity, since tape decks and other players were too big to carry easily. Portable radios existed but couldn’t play cassettes. Likewise, wearing headphones in public was unusual before the MDR-3L2, so Sony employees promoted them by riding trains while listening.
The Walkman was synonymous with portable music until Apple’s iPod popularized MP3 players. Sony still sells Walkmans, but today’s models are essentially standard Android MP3 players.
In 2019, the company marked the TPS-L2’s 40th anniversary with a roughly $500 Android player (€440 in Europe) that paired a touchscreen with a case inspired by the original. Sony’s latest flagship Walkmans run in the thousands.
Another major shift since the Walkman’s heyday was the move from wired to Bluetooth headphones. Wired models began regaining popularity last year, however, along with CD and vinyl sales, and Bose cited that data in September when it introduced a new pair of noise-canceling wired earbuds.
Sony says the headphones need USB Audio Class 1.0 support and aren’t recommended for use with a (modern) Walkman. That’s some nice irony.
Source: www.techspot.com
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