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 page 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 has its own unique features and I’m sure you’ll be able to find the right one after reading this post.
NOTE : For the best stethoscopes available outside India, check out this page.
#1 3M Littmann Classic II S.E stethoscope
This is my personal favorite one and I’ve been using it for over Fifteen 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 chest piece. Hold the chest piece 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 earplugs provide a comfortable fit and an excellent acoustic seal. Moreover, the best part is that you will not have to run around to find the ear-plug replacements as it is easily available both online and in your nearest surgical outlets. 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 is 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. Even today, you can see it around my neck in the youtube videos that I upload to my Youtube channel. Fifteen years ago, when I bought mine, it cost me around INR 3500 and now it sells at approx INR 11 k.
In the last 15 years when I have used the Littmann Classic II, the neck portion has snapped twice and still it was very easy to get it repaired. It only takes 10 minutes job for the technician at the local surgical store. I did not use the original Littmann accessories as they were not available.
So, if you are looking for a sturdy stethoscope that gets the job done, definitely have a look at the 3M Littmann Classic II.
BUY the 3M Littmann Classic II Now
#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 pediatric sides. The 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 its predecessor. You don’t have to buy a separate pediatric 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. Just like the Littmann Classic II, this one’s ear-plugs are also super comfortable and you won’t experience any pain in your ears even when you wear it for an extra long listening!
If you order now, you’ll get INR 2150 discount and grab this latest generation Littmann for 8000 INR. The All Black version of this stethoscope is a bit more expensive, but it is definitely the best looking of the lot.
BUY 3M Littmann Classic III Now
#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. It is truly a master when it comes to clinical auscultation.
All the 3M Littmann stethoscopes mentioned here comes with 3 year warranty and one pair of ear tips, and a choice of brilliant colours. Amazon India price for this master scope is currently INR 16000 INR. If you are a medical student, I will not recommend this one for you. It’s better to start with the Classic III. The Master Classic II is for the masters, those doctors who have been listening to the heavenly rhythm for more than 15 years!
BUY the Littmann Master Classic II Now
#4 MDF Instruments Acoustica Deluxe Lightweight dual head stethoscope
MDF is a major player in the healthcare industry. Their most popular stethoscope model, the updated Acoustica Deluxe model is constructed from acoustically-superior stainless steel. It delivers accurate auscultation of heart, lung, and Korokoff sounds with clarity. The ergonomic design of this 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.
The chest piece is fitted with an ultrasensitive diaphragm sealed with a non-chill retaining ring to provide secure acoustic transmission. The extra-large bell, crowned with a non-chill bell ring, provides greater sound amplification, isolation of low frequencies, and patient comfort.
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 MDF stethoscope is your next best bet being a premier diagnostic instrument with unmatched performance, durability, and aesthetics. Now available for INR 4249.
BUY the MDF Acoustica Deluxe Stethoscope Now
#5 MDF Redesigned Sprague X Rappaport stethoscope
Another masterpiece from MDF, the renowned U.S healthcare instrument manufacturers. The MDF Deluxe Sprague Rappaport X Stethoscope with X-configuration dual-lumen acoustic tubing is the most advanced Sprague Rappaport used by healthcare professionals. You’ll get the same dual lumen tubing in 3M Littmann stethoscopes only for the cardiology scopes and that too at INR 18 k!
The MDF Sprague X Rappaport stethoscope is five stethoscopes in one for a full range of diagnostic applications. Yeah, you heard it right!, it’s a five-in-one stethoscope. And, no compromise in quality, thanks to the craftsmanship of MDF Instruments. The MDF Sprague X Rappaport stethoscope is traditionally trusted to detect faint heart sounds and murmurs. The innovative, patented X-configuration tubing eliminates the rubbing of traditional Sprague Rappaport dual tubing that can cause acoustic interference. Healthcare professionals can easily examine adult, pediatric, and infant patients using this versatile stethoscope
The handcrafted zinc-alloy dual-head convertible chest piece is precisely machined for high performance and durability. Full-rotation dual-output acoustic valve stem with green indicator dot allows the user to easily identify the active sound channel. Using the included accessory kit, the adult and pediatric diaphragm assemblies can be removed and replaced with adult, pediatric, and infant bells. Personally, I don’t think doctors will be carrying the extra bells with them when they go for rounds in the wards. But, in an out patient department, this could be a handy stethoscope for sure.
Other awesome features of the MDF MD One stethoscope like the soft comfort sealing ear tips, safety-lock to prevent ear drum ruptures, lifetime warranty and free parts for life program makes the Sprague X Rappaport stethoscope a no-brainer! Grab this five-in-one high quality, US manufactured stethoscope for just INR 4000 on Amazon.
BUY the MDF Sprague Rappaport Now
This post was last modified on April 16, 2021 at 4:15 PM IST
Thanks for sharing such a great information..Its really nice and informative.
Dear Anshika,
Thank you for the kind words. Really appreciated.
Regards,
Prasoon
Nice article for the professionals. Which sthetoscope would u recommend for medical students in their first & second year. Expensive scopes are not feasible as these get borrowed, misplaced or lost.
Hello Victor,
Any stethoscope below 1000 bucks would be enough. I relied on the MicroTone till the third year. Can you please share the use of a stethoscope in the first year? Has the syllabus been revamped?
Hello Dr Prasoon,
You should try IndoSurgicals Silvery II SS once. they launched new model recently which is IndoSurgicals Silvery III SS. This is best stethoscope
👍☺️
Dear Umesh,
Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll definitely try it out!