AudioFile Magazine Accessories: What to Know
If you’re a regular audiobook listener, you’ve probably noticed that AudioFile magazine reviews don’t just talk about the story—they talk about the sound. That’s because the publication evaluates audiobooks the way film critics evaluate movies: with attention to performance, pacing, and production quality. But here’s what most listeners miss: the magazine’s recommendations often assume you’re listening on decent equipment. If you’re still relying on your phone’s built-in speaker during your commute, you might be missing half of what the reviewers are hearing.
This guide breaks down what AudioFile actually evaluates, which accessories genuinely improve your listening experience, and where you can skip the gear entirely.
What AudioFile Reviewers Are Actually Listening For
AudioFile isn’t rating books—it’s rating performances. A narrator who delivers a gripping thriller at 1.5x speed might sound rushed and muddy at normal pace. The magazine’s reviewers listen for vocal range, character differentiation, and emotional timing. They also flag production issues like background noise or inconsistent audio levels.
That means a five-star AudioFile review tells you two things: the story is solid, and the narration is worth your time. But it also means the review is calibrated for listeners who can actually hear the difference between a well-mastered recording and a compressed file. If you’re listening through a single earbud on a noisy bus, you’re not hearing what the reviewer heard.
The practical takeaway: Use AudioFile reviews to pick your next title, but recognize that your listening setup affects how much of that praised performance you’ll actually perceive. A review that praises a narrator’s “subtle vocal shifts” won’t mean much if your playback equipment flattens those shifts into a monotone blur.
The One Accessory That Changes Everything: Wired Earbuds
Here’s a counterintuitive tip for the time-pressed listener: skip the wireless earbuds for audiobooks. Bluetooth compression can flatten vocal nuance, especially at lower bitrates. A pair of wired earbuds—even a basic $20 set—delivers the full audio signal, which matters when you’re listening to a narrator like Steven Pacey (who reads Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law series with such distinct character voices that reviewers regularly call it a masterclass).
If you’re a commuter who needs noise isolation, look for wired earbuds with silicone tips. They block ambient sound passively, which means you won’t have to crank the volume to hear dialogue over traffic. That’s both a hearing-safety win and a battery-life win for your phone—you’ll stop draining your wireless earbuds’ case every other day.
Listen to this on Audible — Start your free trial and get two free audiobooks.
When a Bluetooth Speaker Makes Sense
Not every listening session happens on the move. If you listen while cooking, folding laundry, or doing dishes, a Bluetooth speaker is the right call. The key is placement: set it at ear level, not on the counter below you. Sound direction matters for speech intelligibility—a speaker at waist height sends dialogue past your ears, not into them.
For this use case, you don’t need a premium audiophile speaker. A mid-range option like the Anker Soundcore series is more than sufficient—the goal is clear mid-range frequencies (where human voices live), not booming bass. You’re listening to a novel, not a concert.
One caveat: If you’re listening to a book with heavy sound design—like World War Z with its full-cast production and ambient audio—a speaker with decent stereo separation will make a noticeable difference. But for a single-narrator literary novel like The Dutch House (read by Tom Hanks), the speaker barely matters. His voice carries the performance regardless of what it’s playing through.
The App Settings That Matter More Than Hardware
Before you buy anything, check your listening app’s playback settings. Most audiobook apps (including Audible) let you adjust:
- Equalizer presets – Many have a “voice” or “podcast” preset that boosts mid-range frequencies. This can make a narrator sound clearer on cheap earbuds.
- Playback speed – AudioFile reviewers listen at normal speed, but if you’re a 1.5x listener, you’re changing the pitch and pacing. Some narrators hold up better at speed than others. If a book feels rushed at your usual speed, try dropping to 1.25x before you blame the narrator.
- Volume normalization – This evens out loud and quiet passages, which is useful if you’re listening in a car where road noise fluctuates.
These settings are free, and they’ll do more for your listening experience than a $200 pair of headphones will. The equalizer alone can transform a muddy-sounding narrator into a crisp one, especially on budget earbuds that emphasize bass over vocals.
What About Sleep Headphones?
If you listen to audiobooks to fall asleep, you’ve probably discovered the problem: regular earbuds hurt your ears when you lie on your side. Sleep headphones—essentially a soft headband with flat speakers built in—solve this. They’re comfortable, and they don’t fall out when you shift positions.
This is a niche accessory, but it’s worth it if you’re a regular bedtime listener. Look for a washable headband option, since you’ll be wearing it nightly. The audio quality won’t match your wired earbuds, but for sleep listening, that’s not the point—you’re not analyzing narration, you’re drifting off to a familiar voice. A narrator like Jim Dale (who reads the Harry Potter series) becomes a reliable sleep aid precisely because his pacing is so consistent.
Where to Skip the Accessories Entirely
If you’re listening through your car’s speakers, you’re already set. Modern car audio systems handle speech perfectly well, and road noise is the bigger variable. Similarly, if you’re listening on a tablet while doing chores at home, the built-in speakers are fine for most fiction.
The accessories that don’t matter for audiobooks:
- Noise-cancelling headphones – Great for music, but overkill for speech. Passive isolation from earbuds is enough.
- Portable DACs/amplifiers – These are for high-resolution music files. Audiobooks are compressed by design; a DAC won’t reveal hidden detail.
- Expensive cables – Don’t fall for this. A $5 cable carries the same signal as a $50 one.
The money you save by skipping these items is better spent on your next audiobook credit—which will actually improve your listening experience.
How to Test Whether You Need Better Gear
Here’s a quick experiment: put on your current listening setup and play a sample from a book with a single narrator. Then switch to a different setup—wired earbuds instead of a speaker, or a voice EQ preset instead of flat. If you can’t hear a difference in clarity, you don’t need to spend money. If the narrator suddenly sounds more distinct, you’ve found your upgrade.
This test takes five minutes, and it’s more reliable than any product review. Your ears, your commute, and your listening habits are the only variables that matter. A narrator like Bahni Turpin (who reads The Hate U Give) has such a dynamic vocal range that the difference between a phone speaker and decent earbuds is immediately obvious—if you can’t hear that difference, your setup is fine.
FAQ
Does AudioFile magazine review audio equipment?
No. AudioFile reviews audiobook performances and productions, not hardware. The magazine occasionally discusses recording quality in reviews, but it doesn’t test or recommend specific headphones, speakers, or players.
Will better headphones make a poorly narrated book sound good?
No. If a narrator is monotone or miscast, no equipment will fix that. Better audio gear only reveals what’s already there—it can’t improve a weak performance.
Is 1.5x speed ruining my listening experience?
Not necessarily. Some narrators sound natural at faster speeds; others sound rushed. If you’re enjoying the book and following the plot, your speed is fine. If you find yourself rewinding frequently, try dropping to 1.25x before changing anything else.
Do I need a special app to get good audiobook sound?
No. The major apps—Audible, Libby, Spotify—all handle audio playback competently. The settings within those apps matter more than the app itself.
Are sleep headphones worth it for occasional bedtime listening?
Only if you listen in bed regularly. If it’s a once-a-week habit, a single earbud on the pillow-facing ear works fine. If it’s nightly, the headband style is worth the $20–30 investment.