This was believed before by earlier publications but recent laboratory testing revealed that the difference between the sound transmitted by short and long tubing is not extremely significant to be picked up by an average person. Thus, tube length is no longer considered to affect the auscultation response. Just make sure that the length is long enough to comfortably drape your stethoscope around your neck. Ensure that it does not cause you the hassle of bending over just to reach the patient you are examining.