A short teaser video posted on Sony's social media channels shows a very familiar silhouette: a slim headband and two orange foam pads. That shape points straight to the MDR-3 headphones, which went on sale in 1979 alongside the TPS-L2 Walkman, and it suggests the company may be preparing to reissue this legendary model.

Some of us remember the design from our own Walkmans; others know it from the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Decades later, the same look is back in the spotlight.

At 45 grams, it stood out from the bulky hi-fi crowd

With its thin headband and a weight of just 45 grams, the MDR-3 was easy to distinguish from the heavy hi-fi headphones of its era. Here's an interesting detail: when the headphones were first introduced, the foam pads were actually black. The orange pads that became synonymous with the Walkman were added later. Sony's new video shows the orange-and-blue combination as well.

Wired or Bluetooth?

s-l1200

The company has not yet said how the new model will connect. Sony could produce a wired version faithful to the original, or it might add Bluetooth to the retro design.

Brands like We Are Rewind and km5 already offer wireless solutions in this space. If Sony takes that route, it will need to fit a battery and the necessary hardware into the slim body — all while preserving the model's biggest advantage, its lightness.

Price expectations: an accessible level

Sony's portfolio also includes digital audio players like the NW-WM1ZM3, which features gold-plated components and costs more than $6,000. However, this retro headphone is expected to arrive with a far more accessible price tag.