Price: $32.25
Place: Amazon
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Pros: Lifetime warranty on metal parts. Identity Tag. Price. Extra ear pieces.
Cons: Identity tag falls apart. Heavy head.
The standard Stethoscope among many practitioners is the 3M Littmann Classic II S.E. Since mine finally broke after 5 years, I decided to look for cheaper options without sacrificing quality since the Littmann is $105 MSRP (though you could find it for ~$75 online). I learned to take better care of my stethoscope by wiping it down with a alcohol pad every day. The oils in my neck ate away at the stethoscope for years not that I have a very oily neck or anything. I also twirled it around a lot (Don't do that).
The only real problem I have with this stethoscope is the chest piece. It seems a little heavier than the Littmann SE II so it slides off my neck sometimes. The identity tag is a two piece hard plastic that sits at the bifurcation point. There have been times where my stethoscope would hit the desk the the tag would just come apart. I fixed the issue using small amounts of tape on the undersides.
Place: Amazon
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Pros: Lifetime warranty on metal parts. Identity Tag. Price. Extra ear pieces.
Cons: Identity tag falls apart. Heavy head.
The standard Stethoscope among many practitioners is the 3M Littmann Classic II S.E. Since mine finally broke after 5 years, I decided to look for cheaper options without sacrificing quality since the Littmann is $105 MSRP (though you could find it for ~$75 online). I learned to take better care of my stethoscope by wiping it down with a alcohol pad every day. The oils in my neck ate away at the stethoscope for years not that I have a very oily neck or anything. I also twirled it around a lot (Don't do that).
After reading through many reviews I ended up with the ADC 603 Stethoscope. From the guys that make our miller and mac intubation blades, the ADC Stethoscope is the same length (22 cm) as the Littmann and looks nearly identical. The Litmman offers a 5 year warranty on metal parts. The ADC offers lifetime warranty. You'll more likely to lose your stethoscope or have it stolen before those warranties though.
The ADC came in a nice box similar to my older Littmann. The box contains the stethoscope, hard and soft ear guards, a spare diaphragm, and identity tag that snaps at the bifurcation point. My Litmann did not contain a identity tag. The sound quality itself is on par with the Littmann. The tubing is thick enough to block out ambient noise but not inflexible.
The only real problem I have with this stethoscope is the chest piece. It seems a little heavier than the Littmann SE II so it slides off my neck sometimes. The identity tag is a two piece hard plastic that sits at the bifurcation point. There have been times where my stethoscope would hit the desk the the tag would just come apart. I fixed the issue using small amounts of tape on the undersides.
The ID tag also saved my stethoscope on a few occasions. I occasionally leave it at work and it would find it's way back to my work mailbox.
ADC is the best stethoscope for this price point and I would not hesitate to buy another one.
ADC is the best stethoscope for this price point and I would not hesitate to buy another one.
This post first appeared on Sometimes I Breathe: Respiratory Therapy, please read the originial post: here
