“A doctor/veterinarian without a stethoscope is like a workman without his tools” — Unknown.
If you are searching for the best stethoscope and looking for some honest reviews then you have landed to the right page.
Qualities of A Good Stethoscope:
Before we dive into the detailed reviews of the most popular and best selling stethoscopes, let’s discuss some features that a good stethoscope must have.
- It should be light weight & easy to carry.
- Length of tubing should not be too short or too long & it must be noise resistant.
- Diaphragms must be made up of high quality PE compound film, resin with flexibility. It is better to have 35mm diaphragms for adult use, 25 mm for paediatric use and 45mm for cardiology use.
- Non-chill rim, comfortable ear pieces, stainless steel binaural and thick wall of tube are other good features of a stethoscope.
- A good stethoscope should also be cost effective, affordable and add value to our money while maintaining its quality.
#1- 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology III™ Stethoscope – Model 3131BE:
One of the best selling and top rated stethoscope is from the Littmann’s cardiology stethoscopes. Littmann, a will known brand for stethoscopes, has designed it for outstanding acoustic performance combined with exceptional versatility.
I would like to clear one confusion, before writing anything else about it, that Cardiology III™ Stethoscope – 3131BE is not only for cardiologists any expert doctor, physician, clinician & medical student can use it for more audible sound of lungs, heart & other body parts.
The complete package of this medical equipment contains:
- Black Plated Chestpiece
- Eartubes
- Black Tube 27 inch / 22 inch
Some of the best features of this stethoscope are:
- Versatile, double-sided chestpiece for better auscultation in adult and pediatric .
- Pediatric side converts to an open bell by replacing the diaphragm with a non-chill bell sleeve (included in the pack).
- Tunable diaphragm: By slightly adjusting pressure on the chestpiece you can easily hear high or low frequency sounds.
- Dual-lumen tubing: Two sound paths in one tube eliminates the annoying & distracting rubbing noise.
- Headset is easily adjusted for individual fit and comfort. Angled eartubes align with ear canals.
This best selling stethoscope is available in 17 colors and you can also choose the length of your stethoscope. It gives you options of 27 inch or 22 inch. Diaphragm is also available in 5 types i.e Rainbow, Smoke & e.t.c. You can also download all the flyers, brochures and FAQs from the official website of Littmann®.
#2- 3M Littmann Master Classic II Stethoscope – Model 2141:
The Master Classic II stethoscope is made in the USA for consistent quality. It comes complete with large soft-sealing eartips, large firm eartips, and instructions. It is used by students and medical professionals alike to detect, listen to, and study heart, lung, and other body sounds for physical assessment and diagnosis.
Some salient features of this 2nd best selling stethoscope are:
- Award winning design and excellent acoustic sensitivity deliver comfort and reliable diagnostic performance
- Tunable diaphragm responds with a simple pressure change to listen low and high-frequency sounds
- Anatomically designed headset is angled to meet the path of the ear canal
- Non-chill rim and diaphragm offers comfort to the patient.
- Latex free materials for allergy sensitive users
#3- 3M™ Littmann® Classic II S.E. Stethoscope – Model 2218BE:
The 3M™ Littmann® Classic II S.E. series is a dependable, hard-working clinical tool for physical assessment and monitoring of patients. It’s the choice of millions of expert doctors and veterinarians who are dedicated to achieving the best patient outcomes. Model 2218BE is the best selling stethoscope of Classic II S.E. Stethoscope series. Some of the cool features of this model are:
- Versatile and classis chestpiece design
- Tunable diaphragm: Hear high or low frequency sounds by slightly adjusting pressure on the chestpiece.
- Non-chill rim and diaphragm
- Soft-sealing eartips
- Headset is easily adjusted for individual fit and comfort. Angled eartubes align with ear canals.
This model is one of the top 10 selling stethoscopes on Amazon. It’s available in 23 colors & 4 chestpiece styles.
#4- MDF® MD One Stainless Steel Premium Dual Head Stethoscope:
This MDF made stainless-steel stethoscope delivers accurate auscultation of heart, lung, and sounds with acoustic integrity and clarity. The MD One™ is a premier diagnostic instrument with unmatched performance, durability, and aesthetics.
Some good features of this best stethoscope are:
- Handcrafted stainless steel dual-head chestpiece
- Soft silicone ComfortSeal™ eartips
- Thicker, denser, latex-free PVC, the Y-configuration non-stick acoustic tubing
- Extra Accessories (2 extra sets ComfortSeal™ eartips, spare ultrasensitive diaphragm, and ID tag)
#5- Omron Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope:
The last, the cheapest & the best selling stethoscope is Omron Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope. Although we don’t recommend it to buy if you are interested in buying an instrument that can really help you in listening body sounds clearly but we also accept that it’s the most selling stethoscope on most online stores and Amazon.com.
The Verdict:
There are so many stethoscope available in the market. They are just like the music devices and headphones and the choice totally depend on you. You may like the one which is usually not very popular among others. But reading some customer reviews before buying anything is a good habit. I personally recommend following two stethoscopes:
- 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology III™ Stethoscope – Model 3131BE
- 3M™ Littmann® Classic II S.E. Stethoscope – Model 2218BE
And if you ask about the most popular brands for stethoscopes, then we will rank them like:
