Master Cardiology Stethoscope, 2160, Stainless Steel Chestpiece, 27" Black Tube

i love this stethoscope, i have owned 5 of them in the last 30 years, before that i went through stethoscopes almost every year. The sounds pick up where they were not heard by others, the stethoscope it's self is heavier than most others, i never buy these on sell because i don't want what another has rejected, and no thank you to refurbished. the product is excellent, an Littmann is a master with sound, fit, colors for your mood, and yes they are so worth it for the price because their durability is approx. 3.5-9 years. you want to hear the sounds.

Working as an R.N for over twenty years has given me many opportunities to use many stethoscopes. Some really good, some really horrible (I've never been a fan of disposable stethoscopes but they have a purpose). I started in healthcare using a large double sided 'scope, the classic "flip over for higher tones" type and as my expertise grew I found myself looking for that certain 'scope that would enable me to hear distinct heart sounds, tones and breath sounds thus improving my patient care. Thus I found the Littmann Master Cardiology stethoscope. This 'scope is heavy! Classically designed and a breeze to use. A gentle slight pressure on the diaphragm will allow one to hear even the slightest murmur in an infant's chest. There is no need to flip the bell over to auscultate adult breath sounds or heart tones; no need to worry about the bell mechanism stripping and spinning madly while you are trying to work! I used my first Littmann Master Cardiology stethoscope for almost fifteen years and then lost it in a house fire, along with a pediatric Littmann (a brilliant little 'scope to be sure). If you're unsure about which 'scope to purchase but want a stellar 'scope that will last a long time (sure diaphragms crack) get the Master Cardiology 'scopeTo replace it, I decided to get a Master Cardiology Stethoscope. A kit for various earpieces and diaphragms give the most discerning clinician what they need for patient assessment. A pediatric adapter is included. The high construction tubing conducts sound well. The diaphragm is solid in construction and ergonomic in design; with the rubber base it is more tolerated for patients to avoid the historically 'cold stethoscope'. The headset is comfortable. Its only limitation is that ocular auscultation for bruits is not ideal but nowadays, medical imaging is utilized to a great degree that this has been somewhat of a lost art. Listening for bruits in other locations is quite easy. This stethoscope is ideal for medical students, nurses, primary care physicians, and cardiologists. It has lasted a decade without issues.

Compared to my trusty Littmann master classic II which I have had over the past 5 years, the master cardiology is a significant step up in terms of sound quality. I am no cardiologist, just a medical student, but I do find the sound insulation on the master cardiology to be noticeably better. The master classic had good isolation and will pick up just about everything this one does, but the cardiology scope is just another step up and feels like putting on a quality pair of isolation headphones. I have had both stethoscopes with me for the past 2 weeks on wards for comparison, and the cardiology does a better job of shutting out ambient noise. This includes doing a better job of shutting out finger contact sounds on the actual chest piece. On the classic, it would pick up some friction sounds; on the cardiology, that is largely gone. For some of the larger patients with distant heart/lung sounds to begin with, this is a benefit. Secondly, the tuned diaphragm on the cardiology is better. The diaphragm itself has a larger diameter and the rubber casket around creates a better contact with the skin to create a better seal. There are some pinholes on the diaphragm which I suppose are there for air flow engineering reasons. Whatever the purpose, the tuneability is impressive. Just leaving the chest piece on on a supine patient (without pressing down at all), I hear clear low pitch sounds. A little pressure, and the higher pitches come out. Finally, the build quality between the two are on par. The tubing is a little thicker on the cardiology because it is a double lumen design. The chestpiece is a little larger on the cardiology and is a little more friendly to use as a reflex hammer because of a wider bezel. All in all, very satisfied with the product. The cardiology scope is way overkill if you're just going to be using it for vitals, but for hearing murmurs, crackles on a larger patient, it is definitely worth the price difference.

Excellent stethoscope as always!

Let me start by saying this is the first review I am writing for any product. I just had to write this one! Firstly, I must commend amazon for their excellent delivery service, my package took just about 11 days to be delivered to Nigeria and all along, I was able to conveniently (and accurately) track it. At almost $200, it's an expensive stethoscope I must admit. At $321 (including shipping), it's the most expensive piece of medical equipment I own. The littmann master cardiology stethoscope is GORGEOUS! It has a polished stainless steel chest piece and an overall attractive design. I initially wanted the burgundy colour but it it wouldn't ship to my location so I had to settle for the black one which is still beautiful. For someone used to low quality stethoscopes, even the feel of the master cardiology is different. It screams quality and class. It's also considerably lightweight (I actually looked at the delivery guy like "are you sure there's master cardiology in here?") When I put it in my ears for the first time, and listened to my own heartbeat (over my clothes!), I couldn't believe my ears... the acoustic performance is just excellent. It has an adapter for pediatric auscultation and a single sided chest piece which allows one to listen to both high and low pitched sounds simply by applying pressure on the chest piece. As a young anaesthetist who'd be dealing with both adult and pediatric patients, I couldn't ask for more. It has got soft sealing ear tips that fit perfectly and cancel out ambient noise. In short, when you're looking for a high performance stethoscope which is worth every penny, look no further than littmann master cardiology. Excellent craftsmanship, littmann!

Great quality brand! Lived up to expectations for item!

Great stethoscope. Littman stethoscopes are my go to. Made well, reliable and easy to hear.

THE SOUND Initially it was hard to even tell the difference between this Littmann and my much cheaper MDF. But after some very careful listening, I can say that there is a difference. The littmann sounds a bit louder and “warmer” and “cleaner” than the MDF. But i think you will still be able to hear the same thing using either. Maybe the Littmann will be able to pick up something distant the MDF can’t, but I can’t say, I haven’t tested it enough to know. THE QUALITY (PROS) -The tubing is very flexible and maneuverable. It’s like it’s “soft”. -The earpieces are very comfortable! -the diaphragm looks and feels expensive. It’s definitely beautiful. -the tubing is lightweight, while the diaphragm is heavy. Wearing it all around your neck is very comfortable though, it doesn’t feel too heavy. I have a lightweight MDF stethoscope that I wear for 12 hours, and I wouldn’t mind wearing this Littmann stethoscope for 12 hours. THE QUALITY (CONS) -one earpiece came with a small flaw (see picture). -the tubing is a hair and lint MAGNET. It’s HORRIBLE. It has a tacky texture that doesn’t seem so bad just to the touch but it turned out to be a major problem when I tried wearing it around my neck. I cannot wear the stethoscope around my neck without snagging my hair each time. I am not even exaggerating. My hair basically sticks to any part of the tubing. Every time I go to put it on or take it off my neck, it snags my hair. Every time. Even when I try to tie my hair out of the way, the tubing snags on the bun or the ponytail. This is the reason I’m returning the stethoscope. There is no way I can foreseeably use it comfortably for 12 hours straight at work, without ripping my hair out, even when being careful. Also, it attracts lint and I can only imagine what else will stick to it in a medical setting in the span of 12 hours. This is highly unhygienic! I’m sure Littmann tried their best to make tubing that’s flexible and resistant to cracking, but it seems like this resulted in tubing with a sticky texture. Sadly, I found out this is a known issue being reported on the internet, and it seems Littmann is unable to do anything about it. Some people buy fabric covers for the tubing. Littmann has also made “satin tubing” for other stethoscopes that is less likely to stick to hair, but this stethoscope isn’t sold with satin tubing. If I’m paying $230 for a stethoscope, I expect it to be flawless. I shouldn’t have to buy a cover for the tubing or try and tolerate this flaw. Especially when cheaper stethoscopes don’t have this flaw. In conclusion, I would really love to keep this stethoscope, but I’m returning it solely because of the tubing.