Review: Sony’s original MDR-3L2 headphones are an important part of the nostalgia surrounding the company’s legendary TPS-L2 Walkman. As interest in wired headphones grows among teenagers, Sony has revived the MDR-3, combining a retro design with modern features, albeit at a slightly higher price than comparable on-ear models.
The new MDR-3R looks almost identical to the 3L2 that came with the first Walkman. However, rather than sacrificing modern functionality for nostalgia, Sony swapped the 3.5mm jack for USB-C and added an in-line remote and microphone for easy playback controls and hands-free calls.
In an age where 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. It weighs just 38g without the cable (which at 1.2 meters is significantly shorter than the original).
Sony has also recreated the original box and manual and included removable orange and blue foam ear pads. The 23 mm drivers are also unchanged, 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, which was first released in Japan in 1979 for ¥33,000 (about US$150 then, or well over US$600 today). The TPS-L2 was the first affordable, truly portable cassette player and launched the legendary Walkman line.
Before the Walkman, listening to music was largely considered a communal activity because cassette decks and other players were too large to easily carry. There were portable radios, but they couldn’t play cassettes. Likewise, wearing headphones in public was unusual before the MDR-3L2, so Sony employees promoted it by riding the train 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 celebrated the 40th anniversary of the TPS-L2 with a roughly $500 Android player (440 euros in Europe) that combined a touchscreen with a case inspired by the original. Sony’s latest flagship Walkmans are selling by the thousands.
Another big change since the Walkman’s heyday was the move from wired to Bluetooth headphones. However, wired models enjoyed a resurgence in popularity last year along with CD and vinyl sales, and Bose cited that data in September when it introduced a new pair of wired noise-canceling earbuds.
According to Sony, the headphones require USB Audio Class 1.0 support and are not recommended for use with a (modern) Walkman. That’s a beautiful irony.
