Stethoscopes may be one of the most common pieces of medical equipment, but that doesn’t mean buying the right stethoscope is simple. It’s a big decision and one whose repercussions can last your career. The current 3M Littmann range of stethoscopes is made up of 9 different models and knowing which one is right for your needs as a GP, nurse, surgeon, paramedic or any other type of healthcare professional can be tricky.

This guide will walk you through important considerations which Littmann stethoscope are best to choose.

1. Littmann Classic III

The Littmann Classic III is the latest version of the stethoscope that's been trusted by millions of medical professionals worldwide.

The Classic III introduces a brand new design, improved materials and enhanced technology to the Littmann range, allowing clinicians to achieve their best.

The Littmann Classic III uses 3M's tunable technology allowing you to transition seamlessly between hearing low and high frequency sounds by simply adjusting the pressure applied on the chestpiece.

The double-sided chestpiece makes the Classic III suitable for use on adult and paediatric patients and features a single-piece diaphragm that's easy to attach and clean thanks to its smooth, crevice-free surface.

The current “industry standard” stethoscope, the Littmann Classic III has both an adulst and paediatric side. Both sides have tunable diaphragms, allowing the user to fine tune what they are listening to by increasing or decreasing the pressure they use.

Suited for: Students, Nurses, GPs

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2. Littmann Cardiology IV

The 3M Littmann Cardiology IV Stethoscope is designed for clinicians who require outstanding acoustic performance combined with exceptional versatility. Its innovative design provides a single-piece tunable diaphragm on each side of the chestpiece. 

  • Better audibility of high-frequency sounds* helps you learn more about your patient’s condition.
  • Single-piece tunable diaphragms let you hear high and low frequency sounds on both the adult and pediatric sides of the chestpiece.
  • Paediatric side converts to an open bell. Just remove the single-piece diaphragm and replace it with a non-chill rim.
  • Open bell stays clear of dirt and debris by covering it with the small diaphragm.
  • Dual-lumen tubing combines two sound paths in one tube, eliminating the rubbing noise of traditional double tubes.
  • Not made with natural rubber latex or phthalate plasticizers, next-generation tubing lasts longer with improved resistance to skin oils and alcohol and is less likely to pick up stains.

Suited for: Advanced Students, GPs, Emergency Medics, Paramedics, Cardiologists, Child Specialists

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3. Littmann Master Classic II

The 3M Littmann Master Classic II features Littmann's patented single-sided 'Master' chestpiece. The steth allows you to monitor both high and low frequency sounds without having to turn over the chestpiece. The Master Classic II features high-performance single-lumen tubing, patented suspended diaphragm, a non-chill rim and patented 3M Littmann soft-sealing eartips for practitioner comfort.

Suited for: Specialist Nurses, Physiotherapists, Paramedics, GPs

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4. Littmann Master Cardiology

The 3M™ Littmann® Master Cardiology™ Stethoscope is characterized by the best acoustic response in the Littmann mechanical stethoscope line; with a tunable diaphragm, dual-lumen tubing, and a precision, ergonomically designed, stainless steel chestpiece.

  • Dual-lumen tubing reduces background noise and improves the quality of sound transmission, giving the Master Cardiology a 10/10 Littmann performance rating.
  • All stethoscopes in this range come with a 7 year warranty on materials and manufacturing, so if yours is damaged you can have it repaired, for free.
  • Littmann Master Cardiology Stethoscope: Black & Brass 2175

Suited for: Cardiologists, Paramedics, Emergency Medics, GPs

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5. Littmann Electronic 3100

With outstanding auscultation technology, the 3100 can amplify sounds up to 24 times compared to a standard stethoscope and makes it easier to detect difficult-to-hear heart sounds like S3 gallops, aortic regurgitation murmurs and abnormal lung sounds.

At the touch of a button, you can switch between diaphragm and bell modes, allowing you to select high- or low-frequency sounds at will.

Suited for: Hard-of-Hearing, Paramedics, Emergency Medics, Cardiologists, Child Specialists

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6. Littmann Electronic 3200

The 3M™ Littmann® Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200 combines Ambient Noise Reduction technology and frictional noise dampening features with amplification, Bluetooth® technology, and an all-new user interface, for the next level of performance and ease of use.

  • Allows you to hear critical body sounds with 3M™ Littmann Stethoscopes' proprietary ambient noise reduction technology which eliminates, on average, 85% of distracting background noises, without filtering out critical body sounds
  • Provides extra listening power when a heart, lung or body sound is especially faint such as that of an obese patient or when clothing restricts your listening experience with its ability to amplify sounds 24X the sound level of a Littmann cardiology stethoscope
  • Let your patient listen to their own sounds; record multiple sounds in one patient and compare them or save up to twelve 30-second sounds on your stethoscope of multiple patients and file them electronically at your convenience; seek a peer’s opinion with the 12-track recording capabilities.

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