Littmann Master Classic or Master Cardiology?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

I work on a med-surg unit, I currently I have Littmann Classic SE-II, and I would like to upgrade. I am trying to decide between Master Classic and Master Cardiology. Littmann Cardiology comes with a free Littmann heart sounds CD. I wish it came with free lung sounds CD instead, it would be more useful. Anyone tried both of these stethoscopes?

Get neither. Everyone knows that the tunable diaphragm gimmick was a tragedy. If you really wish to upgrade get a Cardiology III instead.

If you are to ask of my opinion I'd say that the Classic SE II is already good enough for most doctors, if not nurses. In this age of echo and blood tests, auscultation rarely plays an important part in diagnosis and management.

Get neither. Everyone knows that the tunable diaphragm gimmick was a tragedy. If you really wish to upgrade get a Cardiology III instead.

If you are to ask of my opinion I'd say that the Classic SE II is already good enough for most doctors, if not nurses. In this age of echo and blood tests, auscultation rarely plays an important part in diagnosis and management.

I came to check out these threads to make sure I wasn't being presumptuous buying a Classic II SE since most of the physicians in my practice use them, or something comparable.

Specializes in Neuro, Med-surg..

I've never been able to hear much difference in sound between the Classic II S.E. and the Master Classic II, personally. I don't know if the tunable diaphragm is a catastrophe. Personally, I like the sound of non-tunable diaphragms (or floating diaphragms) because the sound seems cleaner, crisper, or less 'boomy' to me. That being said, Littmann makes quality scopes that work well. Of your choices, I would think the Cardio III would be better because it has a peds diaphragm conversion. The master Cardio does too, but I've read it's not has good as the cardio III's.

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