Littmann

How the series differ

Classic III has a double-sided chest piece with a tunable diaphragm. The adult side and the paediatric side are swapped by turning the chest piece, and if the diaphragm is removed from the paediatric side it becomes an open bell for low-frequency sounds. It is the model most people choose for general auscultation and routine blood pressure measurement.

Cardiology IV has a tunable diaphragm on both sides, and the bell side is 40% larger and 60% deeper than on Classic III. The difference is audible in the reproduction of low-frequency sounds such as an S3 gallop rhythm. Master Cardiology is Littmann’s most advanced non-electronic stethoscope and instead has a single-sided chest piece in hand-turned stainless steel — you switch between low- and high-frequency sounds simply by varying the pressure against the skin.

CORE Digital combines acoustic auscultation with up to 40x amplification and active noise reduction, and connects via Bluetooth to the Eko app so you can visualise, record and share recordings.

Lightweight II S.E. is the lightest model in the series and sits comfortably around the neck for a whole shift. Classic II Pediatric and Classic II Infant have a smaller and an extra compact chest piece respectively, sized for children and for newborns.

Choose according to what you actually listen to

If you need a stethoscope for a mixed practice, emergency care or training, Classic III will take you a long way. If cardiac auscultation is your main task, it is the size and depth of the bell that make the difference, and then Cardiology IV or Master Cardiology is the right level. For neonatal and paediatric work, the size of the chest piece governs the choice more than the series does.

The tubing is latex-free and phthalate-free across the whole range, and the chest pieces are stainless steel. Colour and finish do not affect the acoustics — a brushed or mirror-polished chest piece is the same model in a different finish.

Spare parts keep the stethoscope in service

Diaphragms, eartips and wear parts are sold as original kits per series. The kits are model-specific: Classic III and CORE share a spare parts kit, while Classic II Pediatric, Classic II Infant, Master Cardiology, Master Classic and Lightweight II S.E. each have their own. Eartips in large and small sizes are available as a separate kit and fit across the series. We also sell ID tags for marking stethoscopes at a shared workplace.

Check the series name on your stethoscope before ordering parts — Classic II and Classic III do not take the same diaphragm. If you want to compare Littmann with other makes, the full selection is under stethoscopes, and accessories for storage under stethoscope cases.