I’ve been asking my friends and colleagues about their stethoscopes for a while now. After six months of research, I’ve come up with this list of five best stethoscopes that you can buy online. Being the Doctor is about better health and stethoscopes are like the brand ambassador of this blog. For auscultation of heart, lung, bowel and Korakoff’s sounds, you’ll need a good stethoscope. I know you are not in the mood for any more product reviews, but believe me this one will definitely help you make a quick and right decision.
This article is intended for medical professionals like doctors, nurses, medical and nursing students etc who are planning to change their current stethoscope or buy a new one. Each of these stethoscopes have their own unique features and I’m sure you’ll be able to find the right one after reading this post.
NOTE : Check out this page if you’re in India (with price details)
#1 3M Littmann Classic II S.E stethoscope
This is my personal favourite one and I’ve been using it for over eight years now. It was also my first Littmann stethoscope. The 3M Littmann Classic II S.E is a powerful clinical diagnostic and monitoring tool used by millions of healthcare professionals all around the world. It was first introduced with technology that was not available in the market ever before.
I’m talking about the tunable diaphragm technology. With this innovative technology, 3M allows the user to hear (auscultation) both low and high frequency sounds by simply adjusting the pressure applied on the chestpiece. Hold the chestpiece with light pressure to hear low frequency sounds; press a little more to hear higher frequency sounds. This time-saving feature allows the healthcare provider to focus on the patient, while the non-chill rim provides patient comfort. The chest piece is also equipped with a traditional bell.
The soft-sealing ear plugs provides a comfortable fit and an excellent acoustic seal. It will be a perfect fit for all head sizes because the ear tubes can be easily squeezed in or pulled apart to fit your head. 
The tubing are made of high quality material and they last for several years even after rugged use. The flexibility of the Littmann Classic II S.E tubes has surprised me on many occasions. The tubes resist skin oils, alcohol and other stains and hence lasts long. I feel confident when the Littmann Classic II S.E hangs around my neck flashing the popular Littmann logo. It’s a must-have clinical tool for all professional healthcare workers.
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#2 3M Littmann Classic III stethoscope
The 3M Littmann Classic III Stethoscope offers high acoustic sensitivity for exceptional performance when doing general physical assessments. It features dual tunable diaphragms and an updated design that is easier to clean and maintain.
The 3M™ Littmann® Classic III™ Stethoscope is the latest version of the stethoscope that helps millions of medical professionals achieve their best. The Classic III stethoscope offers high acoustic sensitivity for exceptional performance, plus a versatile two-sided chestpiece with tunable diaphragms.
Two-sided chestpiece with tunable diaphragms are present on both the adult and paediatric sides. Pediatric side converts to a traditional open bell by replacing the single-piece diaphragm with a non-chill rim. It’s just like the old saying, “one shot, two birds”! 
As it’s an upgrade to the Classic II S.E model, the Classic III stethoscope retains the awesome features of it’s predecessor. You don’t have to buy a separate paediatric stethoscope if you’re a general-practitioner or a medical student. Isn’t that great?
The Classic III stethoscope is used by students and medical professionals alike to identify, listen to, and study heart, lung, and other body sounds for physical assessment, patient monitoring, and diagnosis.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00QESFO80″ locale=”US” tag=”beithedoc0d-20″ cart=”y” localize=”y” popups=”n”]BUY 3M Littmann Classic III Now[/easyazon_link]
#3 3M Littmann Master Classic II stethoscope
If the Littmann Classic II S.E is the Cadillac among stethoscopes, then the Master Classic II is the Rolls Royce! It comes with all the great features of the Classic II S.E stethoscope and some additional features like a high quality diaphragm made of epoxy/fibreglass, single sided chest piece for better grip. The stethoscope has a premium finish and design.
The 3M Littmann Master Classic II Stethoscope brings together award-winning ergonomic design and excellent acoustic sensitivity. It delivers reliable performance and comfortable use to professionals dedicated to providing the best patient care. 
All the 3M Littmann scopes mentioned here comes with 3 year warranty and one pair of ear tips, and a choice of brilliant colours.
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#4 ADC Adscope 603 Clinician stethoscope
American Diagnostic Corporation’s Adscope 603 is a popular stethoscope for those who are on a budget. The low price does not compromise with any of the premium features that were available in the above mentioned scopes. In fact, the ADC Adscope 603 is loaded with some extra features.
It comes with a traditional bell/diaphragm (with non-chill rims on both sides for patient comfort) chest piece with AFD technology (similar to 3M’s tuneable diaphragm technology) for outstanding acoustic performance. The extra large (1 3/8’’) produces unsurpassed low frequency transmissions. The body is made of stainless steel and the high quality multi coloured tubings makes sure that they offer unbelievable durability. Ultra-sensitive diaphragm (1 3/4” diameter) for greater amplification and crisper high frequency response
Clinician headset boasts reinforcing yoke molded into the flexible 22″ PVC tubing and stainless steel binaurals fixed at 15º angle for greater comfort. 
Additionally, the package includes accessory kit with 2 pairs of spare Adsoft Plus ear tips and scope ID Tag. Lifetime Warranty covering all parts makes the Adscope 603 a head turner.
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#5 MDF MD One premium dual head stethoscope
MDF is a major player in the healthcare industry. Their most popular stethoscope model, the MD One is constructed from acoustically-superior stainless steel. It delivers accurate auscultation of heart, lung, and Korokoff sounds with clarity. The ergonomic design of the MD One stethoscope ensures comfort for the doctor and patient, even during extended use.
The chest piece is handcrafted and hand-polished stainless steel with bell/diaphragm. The full-rotation acoustic valve stem with green indicator dot allows the user to easily identify the active sound channel. 
Tubing are thicker, longer and made of latex-free PVC. The innovative, Acoustic Pyramid Chamber, a patented internal metal-alloy chamber located in the acoustic tubing below the spring keeps the tubing channel open for maximum sound transmission into the headset.
Hand polished, pre-angled stainless steel headset along with soft sealing ear tips blocks out ambient noise and gives a comfortable fit for the user. The safety-lock feature in the MDF ear tips prevents accidental ear-drum ruptures. The MDF MD One stethoscope also comes with 2 pairs of ear tips, scope tag and lifetime warranty. If you’re thinking outside 3M and ADC, then the MD One stethoscope is your next best bet being a premier diagnostic instrument with unmatched performance, durability, and aesthetics.
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Check out this page if you’re in India.
Which stethoscope are you using now? Do you have any favourite ones? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Have a great day!
