A familiar silhouette can survive a change in listening habits. The Sony MDR-3R brings back the slim headband and foam pads associated with the first Walkman, but its cable now ends in USB-C.

The new wired headphones draw on the original MDR-3 design specifications, including the 23mm driver diameter. Sony has re-engineered that layout with tuning intended to remain close to the original while making modest adjustments for contemporary listening. That is a design brief, rather than a claim that a decades-old recording suddenly sounds better.

Interchangeable blue and orange pads come in the box, and the packaging and instructions also revisit the original design. The lightweight, open-ear construction keeps the physical presentation deliberately simple. A microphone and in-line remote add calls and playback control to the familiar formula of USB-C headphones.

Compatibility requires USB Audio Class 1.0 support, and some devices or apps may need settings changes. Sony also specifically advises against use with a Walkman, an unusual footnote for a revival with these roots.

The MDR-3R is available for $59.99. A Stranger Things edition joins Sony’s headphone range with an engraved logo and custom packaging; it is available to preorder for $79.99.