Connected Headphones That Play Music Without a Smartphone; Sony Goes Back to Walkman Roots With USB
Sonos and Sony are taking divergent paths in the premium headphone market, with Sonos launching Wi-Fi-enabled smart headphones and Sony releasing retro-styled wired USB-C models. The products target different consumer segments, ranging from tech-integrated home audio users to fans of vintage aesthetics.
Why it matters
This reflects a broader trend in consumer electronics where manufacturers are either doubling down on smart connectivity or leveraging nostalgia to drive hardware sales.
Add preferred source Sonos has launched its second-generation headphones, the Sonos Ace Ultra, featuring the ability to stream music directly over Wi-Fi without a smartphone. The headphones can seamlessly hand off playback from the company's speakers, offer up to twice the noise reduction of the first generation, and provide up to 35 hours of continuous playback. Meanwhile, Sony will release the MDR-3R on November 20, a USB Type-C model that inherits the design of the MDR-3 from the original Walkman era, priced around 8,000 yen (about $50) including tax. The wired headphones require neither charging nor pairing, and Sony aims to capture younger consumers drawn to Showa- and Heisei-era retro aesthetics.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in