Digital Stethoscope Review - Thinklabs One vs. Littmann 3200

A comparison of the Thinklabs One and Littmann 3200 digital stethoscopes, including design, performance, recording ability, software, and durability.

[martyhopkirk]

Thank you for a comprehensive and informed review. As a nurse with hearing loss ( congenital and worsening) I am looking to purchase my first electronic scope and this has been a big help.

[tragicstory]

Thank you! I am a severely hearing impaired Respiratory Therapist. My Electromax Stethoscope died and am looking at different options (they don't make this scope anymore). I was between the Littman and the Thinklabs. The amplification of 100X normal scope power is amazing and to hear that the quality of sound is pretty good really helps. No one has either of these scopes to test out. Thank you again!!!

[tahajafferjee]

Hello, could you please give us an updated review of the Thinklabs One stethoscope. Just to know how it has been since your first review.
Thank you in advance

[abdulrahmansaz]

I use littmann 3200 since 2 years and its better than any other electronic stethoscopes

[pressrepeat]

Would love to hear a comparison vs an Eko Core (or even Eko Duo). Thinking of either one of these (Thinklabs One, Littman or Eko) and can’t decide!

[donkelley]

Great comprehensive review. Personally, I have used the 3100 for nearly 8 years now, it has never failed me once. I recently went with the ONE, I have had it about 2 months now. The sound clarity is far superior to the 3100. The ear bud cords do seem to get tangled more than I would like, and lastly (for me) after average use the ONE battery was zero just before a shift, it took about 6 hours (connected to a computer USB) to charge. One last note, to add wireless connectivity to the ONE (with decent bass earbuds) is another $200 on top of the cost of the ONE.

[xy]

so if youre getting a digital signal, couldnt you run it through software to detect anomolies? For instance if the signal has higher frequencies associated with wheezing, it could give an alert.

[patriciajardim]

What about now, in 2019? Did the Thinklab device get some upgrades? The con's of this device were improved? Is it worthy to get one now?

[jackhydrick]

Thanks for taking the time to do the review. I have Mild to Moderate hearing loss and do well with a Cardiology III. Think I'll stick with it for now.

[chrisdebie]

prime example of how opinions differ.. LOVE my 3200 especially on the ambulance as a MICN!! 3200 blows it out of the water.. best thing is I can record it and send it to a Dr. I am reporting to in a VERY VERY rapid time, even when I am still in the back of the ambulance on my many many NICU CCT, ive even had doctors recieve the "tones" before I even get the patient to the inbound NICU we are transporting to.

[bsnfnp]

I enjoyed your stethoscope review. I have had several digital stethoscope and agree with you on the littmann. I bought the Thinklabs one and love it. Your review was spot one.  

[nope]

I hope you make an updated one of this!

[esr]

Great review. Clear and informative. Pretty excited to order the one myself.

[EnzoPietro]

I wish that every review would be like that, what an amazing review, thank you very much for that!

[horscategorie]

Interesting that you have had such a bad experience with the 3200. I have owned mine since 2014 and it has been used hard. I find the noise cancellation to be one of the biggest advantages, especially when working on the side of highways, in aircraft, or in the ED. I have not tried the thinklabs, but I have used several other digital stethoscopes, and too many classic models to count from the cheap isolation stethoscopes to my old master cardiology. For a noisy environment, the 3200 is what I prefer. While I agree there is no need for the 'traditional' shape, it is convenient to throw around your neck while you continue to assess and treat, listen, intubate, then confirm lung sounds again. Not the same with a puck. Much easier to misplace during a chaotic rescue with hydraulic rams and cutters removing car doors while you are in the back seat auscultating lung sounds. Different tools for different environments. Like I said, I have absolutely abused my 3200 and it is still going strong. It works great whether I am working as a nurse, or as a paramedic, and I hear the murmurs I miss with non augmented stethoscopes due to slight hearing loss from years of rescue work. I would like to see improved bluetooth... and the software stinks, but my 3200 is battle proven.

[bookeaterintube]

Great objective review!
For me as a person who loses lots of pens on wards the small size is actually a disadvantage as it can get misplaced easily. It is much more difficult to lose your bulky oldschool stethoscope.
This aside I think that thinklab one is awesome and I'd buy one have I known I'm not gonna lose it soon :/

[robertonicolasz]

Hi! I would like to know if you have ever used a spectrum analyzer app to record the sounds and displaying. In your review, where you used audacity, one can see a phonocardiogram, but it would be interesting to know if seeing the frequencies vs dB on the phone could improve diagnostic accuracy.

[weijinliang]

Great review with details and real recording, THX~!

[leoppmkd]

Try it with the Sennheiser CX175 earbuds... they are pretty loud (120db), low noise and have a great frequency response (17-23000Hz)... they are not very expensive either, and offer outstanding audio quality :) I use them for listening to HQ audio recordings all of the time! anyways.. thank You for the video, i was looking for a good review of both of these stethoscopes :)

[Nennareth]

Do you know if the Thinklabs One would pick up the fetal heartbeat well? I imagine this potentially being a great ultrasound free alternative to using a fetal doppler.