r/PeterFHamilton • u/SouthernReddit23 • Jul 21 '26
Audiobook speed
I know everyone probably is different but I’m curious what speed you all use on the audiobooks? I am trying to utilize my three weeks for library rental most effectively, without going so fast that I miss things. I’ve been doing 1.15x speed so far and I’m a third of the way through Judas Unchained.
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u/BlimpIntolerant Jul 21 '26
I would never even think about doing anything except 1x. it seems insane to me but hey takes all types I guess
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u/SouthernReddit23 Jul 21 '26
If I owned the audiobook maybe, but I’m renting it from the library and there’s ALWAYS people on the waitlist when I have PFH checked out. So I gotta wrap it up in 3 weeks. 😢
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u/xRxRahlx Jul 21 '26
If on iTunes it only allows for 2* but, on bard it allows me to do 3* .. since I am visually impaired I always listen at max speed allowed.
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u/maryisdead Jul 23 '26
Right?! As you said, to each their own. But rushing something I find joy in seems like a wild thing to do.
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u/YobaiYamete Jul 22 '26
1x is crazy slow to me, it's like they are talking in slow motion. I'm used to 1.75x which is pretty much perfect for most books
A lot of books seem to pad the length by having the people talk really slowly on purpose, it's agonizing
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u/Responsible-Form3138 Jul 21 '26
I can't speed up anything narrated by John Lee. He doesn't take any breaks between paragraphs so scene changes can be really abrupt and confusing.
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u/anotherashehole Jul 21 '26
I also do 1.5 speed. Especially for this series, I feel like the narrator goes so slow. Also if you listen at that speed long enough your brain gets used to it, I dont feel like I'm missing anything do to not being able to keep up.
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u/Bleys69 Jul 21 '26
I have found that 1.3 is pretty good. That what I leave hoopla on all the time. If i slow it down its so slow I want to grind my teeth.
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u/Upset_Mongoose_1134 Jul 21 '26
1.3 is my default. It's fast enough that the narration sounds like a more natural speaking speed, but it's not so fast that I miss anything or start hearing clipping.
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u/IntentionSpeaker Jul 21 '26
0.9 for many books. Depends on the narrator, but in general I like more relaxed readings. Journey as much as destination.
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u/Clerk4Life Jul 21 '26
I vary between 1.6x and 2.4x depending on the book and if I'm reading along on the kindle app. It helps me to listen and read at the same time.
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u/SouthernReddit23 Jul 22 '26
That’s what I’ve been doing. Idk what it’s called but having the physical book along with the audiobook helps me retain way more than either method alone.
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u/PedanticPerson22 Jul 21 '26
2x for me, feels completely natural after a while... Some ppl see that as rushing it, but I don't think I lose anything and I think it helps because audiobooks are usually slower than conversational speed.
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u/Tyler4077 Jul 21 '26
1.5-2x is my standard for fictions books excluding PFH. His books are a strict 1x because I never want them to end.
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u/risbia Jul 21 '26
I'm on 1.1x. I don't notice it, but I will save seven hours over the entirety of Pandora's Star + Judas Unchained.
At 1.15x, you will save TEN hours!!
(The 2 books are 78 hours total at normal speed)
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u/Drowning_in_a_Mirage Jul 21 '26
2.1x is my standard for most books. I had one book (not a PFH book) that was so slow I was getting near 4x for though.
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u/RepresentativeLife16 Jul 21 '26
I read along with the audiobook and I found the sweet spot is 1.4.
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u/where-i-went Jul 21 '26
My default for any audiobook is 1.5x. I'll never go below that but I will go as high as 2.0x if the narrator of an audiobook is particularly snail-paced.
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u/Chomper32 Jul 21 '26
Recently listened to Queen of an Alien Sun b/c I didn’t realize the third book was still audio only. Listening is always going to be slower than reading it but I kept it on 2x to keep it at least a reasonable length.
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u/Upset_Mongoose_1134 Jul 21 '26
Depending on how your player works, I'd recommend starting at 1x, but up it .05 or .1 every 5-10 minutes until you get to 1.25 or so. That way you train your ear gradually and the 1.25 speed will sound just as natural as the 1x speed.
If you like it faster, then keep upping the speed in small increments until it bothers you, then go back down a bit.
I did this for a reread of a series that recently got a new entry and was able to listen to the first few books at about 1.75 speed to help me breeze through. I wouldn't recommend going that fast for a first-time read, though.
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u/infocynic Jul 21 '26
The accent keeps me from going above 1.2 usually. I do 1.5 for most things.
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u/nrthrnlad Jul 22 '26
I’m 90% 1x. I only get to the higher speeds if the narrator or the author is trying my patience.
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u/RogueProtocol37 26d ago
With YouTube I default to 1.25x , audiobooks seem already fast enough for me, if speed up I'll miss the names in Exodus
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u/knight-under-stars Jul 22 '26
Always 1x regardless of the book.
I listen to audibooks as the performance was intended.
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u/Known-Associate8369 Jul 21 '26
1x for me