Audiobooks discussion
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Audible account or Kindle Wispersync. Which is Better?
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I'll tell you what I've learned. First, with Whispersync, you can only get a discount on an Audible book if you have the Kindle version. So, the thing to do is add the price of the Kindle version and the discounted price of the audiobook connected to it with Whispersync. If the total of the two is less than a credit, get both. I did this with The Great Gatsby. I have the Kindle app on my Nook and I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie. The price of the Kindle edition plus the cost of the Audible edition was not only less than a credit, it was less than either the Nook or Kobo editions. It was a no-brainer to get both. I ended up reading only a chapter of the Kindle book because the audiobook was so good. This strategy is usually the most advantageous with classics. I got the audiobook of Dracula for either 99 cents or $1.99. You can't beat that. I also just picked up both the Kindle version of Little Women and the audiobook for free. I had now idea they had a free Whispersync pair of the month. I'll have to keep my eyes open for that.For big new releases, you'll tend to find that it's best to do either Kindle or Audible because the discount is little or any on the audiobook. However, it never hurts to check it out and do the math. Where you tend to really save is when there's a Kindle Daily Deal. If you can get the Kindle edition for $1.99 and the audiobook is less than a credit, you've got a good deal.
By the way, I really adored both The Great Gatsby and Dracula in audio. The linked Audible editions were both Audible productions and were really excellent listens.
Here's the link to a list of books that you can get for free for the Kindle and pay only 99 cents for the audiobook. http://www.amazon.com/s/?pf_rd_m=A2ZO...
I also think you need to decide whether audiobooks are really for you. It's a different reading experience. It can be an acquired taste. But if you stick with it, you'll learn, with time, to distinguish between excellent, good and mediocre narration. You'll also learn what kind of voices work best for your ear.
Good luck!
Good luck!
By the way, Doctor Sleep was an excellent choice for a first audiobook. Will Patton's narration was absolutely perfect. I'm so glad I listened to it instead of reading it.
Sandi's right on with her explanation. One other little trick: If you check out a Kindle book on Overdrive through your library system that is Whispersync compatible, you may be able to get the Whispersync price on the audiobook. I will say that I tested this out just today, and I was able to get 1Q84 for $3.95. The bad news is that almost all of the Whispersync prices for the audiobooks I wanted were higher than what I pay per credit (though I'm a platinum member).
Good luck!
Sandi wrote: "This strategy is usually the most advantageous with classics. I got the audiobook of Dracula for either 99 cents or $1.99...."Thank you Sandi for explaining the difference between the two so well. I did the Wispersync scan (if that's what you call it) on Amazon and was able to get "The Tale of Two Cities" for 99 cents. I also got "The Name of the wind" for $3.99, I only hope that the narrator is as good as Will Patton..:)
~Jennifer~
I agree with you about figuring out "IF" in fact I like audiobooks. I already know from when I was deciding which audible credit to choose, there were some books samples that I did not like the way they were read. Plus too, I really enjoy reading for myself.
~Kristie~
How do you check out a book on Overdrive?
I would go to your local library system's web site or contact them to see if they offer Overdrive. If so, there will probably be a link to Overdrive's site on the library's website. (Don't just go to Overdrive.com...you need the web address for your library system's link to Overdrive.) You'll obviously set up an account on that site and go from there. Overdrive interfaces with Amazon to check out books. You'll have access to the e-book for whatever length of time your library system has set up. (Mine allows checkout for 21 days, though it used to be 14. I can check out up to 3 e-books at a time.) If you want to "return" it sooner (as libraries usually only have a limited number available at a time), you can manage it through your Amazon account (when you're on Amazon, go to "Manage your Kindle").
Hope this helps. I welcome others to chime in where I wasn't clear, forgot something, or where it might work differently for other folks.
If in doubt use the sample to see if you like the narrator before you buy. If you really hate it after you give it a best effort try ask Audible if it is possible to return the item.
For people who have always loved reading in print, one of the things audiobooks can do is sort of supplement your reading time when it simply isn't possible to read print--driving, exercising, doing housework, etc. They make it possible to get to more of the books you want to read. For some of us, reading via audio has become something of an addiction and the voice becomes as much a part of the experience as the words. One of the things I love about being a part of this group is that everyone shares their recommendations and I've found a number of great listening experiences I wouldn't have found otherwise. However you use your own audiobook experiences, welcome to the family!
Ditto what Jeanie said. Over half my book consumption is audio. There are more books in the world than I will ever have time to read. Audio lets me enjoy more of them.
~Kristie~I will put this plan into action...I didn't know this about the public library, but I'm glad I do now.
~Jeanie~
So many books to read, so little time to do it...:)
This is how I listened to the first audio book too, while I exercised and cooked dinner.
Thanks a bunch to all of you ladies. I hope this information is useful to someone else, to help them as much you guys have helped me.
Can someone please help me with the whispersync setting? I have the audio book on my android phone and windows tablet as well as the kindle version on each. However I can't figure out how to get the narration on the kindle. How do you do that?
Emily wrote: "Can someone please help me with the whispersync setting? I have the audio book on my android phone and windows tablet as well as the kindle version on each. However I can't figure out how to get th..."Are you wanting to listen at the same time as reading the text? If so, I think you can only do that with the Kindle Fire tablet. What Whispersync does is allow you to alternate between audio & text. If you read a couple of chapters of the Kindle version, do a sync. Then, do another sync when you go to the Audible app and it will pick up where you left off in the book. Listen for an hour, sync again, and you can pick up where you left off when you open your Kindle edition. The key is having an internet connection.
I am just trying to alternate because most of the time I only have time to listen, but I'd like to be able to read when I can. However I can't figure out how to get it to go to where I left off. I will try this and see if that works. Thank-you Sandi
Emily wrote: "I am just trying to alternate because most of the time I only have time to listen, but I'd like to be able to read when I can. However I can't figure out how to get it to go to where I left off. I ..."Hey Emily!
If you need help with Whispersync for Voice, we can definitely help you! Please email us at social-support@audible.com. In the meantime, check out this FAQ page for very useful info: bit.ly/SCpGMh
We look forward to helping you.
Emily wrote: "I am just trying to alternate because most of the time I only have time to listen, but I'd like to be able to read when I can. However I can't figure out how to get it to go to where I left off. I ..."You have to have your wireless turned on. I keep my Kindle with wireless off, unless I am actually downloading something so I was frustrated with Whispersync at first. Now I know to turn it on, sync, and then open the book.
P.S. Whispersync also requires you to listen in the Audible app. I usually just listen using my iPod Touch which is too old to support the app, so I mostly am manually syncing by stopping at chapter breaks...
ahhh, that's why I'm having trouble with whispersync. I only use the audible app on my Nook hd. On the Itouch, the app was always quitting unexpectedly. Even though audible has fixed it, I'm still not in the habit of using it. As to the Doctor Sleep, stick the ebook into your wishlist. Amazon has, once or twice, emailed me with good deals on items in my wishlist. However, these deals are usually dependent on the publisher releasing the author's next book.
I really like whispersync, although I still have an audible account. But, I've been having problems with whispersync. One book kept skipping pages, although the narration continued. It's been reported to tech support.The book I was reading/listening to today stopped at one point and I got a message that narration wasn't available for that page and did I want to cancel or jump to the next page where narration was available.
I listen/read on my Kindle Fire.
My neighbor is trying out Audible. Her eyes are getting tired. She has Amazon Prime and wanted to buy The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins. I forget the price - about $19. But she can buy the Kindle version of that book and add audible narration for $17.48. Money is an issue. Is it really cheaper to buy them both, or is she giving something up?Also - what does it mean when a book costs a credit?
If the cost of the kindle book plus $17.48 exceeds $19.00, then whispersync isn't a good deal unless she really wants the ebook. I suggest that your friend get a trial membership on Audible. As a Prime member she will probably get two free credits. For members, each book costs a credit so she can get any two books for free, she can quit at any time. There are various levels of membership. The typical one costs $14.95 per month and you get one credit. There are other levels of membership that reduce the cost per credit a little. The cost per credit is usually cheaper than the cost of the audiobook (even taking into account the member discount). If your friend just wants to try out an audiobook without joining Audible, she could get a free kindle copy of a classic like Dickens or Austen and then get the whispersync audiobook. They cost around 2 or 3 dollars. She could also try borrowing audiobooks from the library using the Overdrive app. This is the quick and dirty answer to your question. I hope this helps.
There are many books that are less expensive as whispersync deals, and no, you are not giving something up. You are actually getting an ebook and audiobook for less than the price of the audiobook alone. Depending on the genre you prefer, you can get some fabulous deals that way. Another option is to check the kindle ebook out of your library and then get the companion whispersync audiobook from Audible. Some really great deals!!!
Also, tell your friend to sign up for the daily deal. I get an email every day with deals ranging from $0.99 to $5.95 per book. I just bought a Dave Barry book for $1.95. I like the immersion aspect of whispersync. I can read and listen at the same time and I don't even have to turn the page.
If you can get the kindle book from overdrive, and take advantage of the audiobook deal. Thats the best cost option when you can use it
I think it also depends on how much listening you plan to do. I'm an audiobook junkie so I have the platinum membership from Audible and still round it out with Overdrive. But if listening is something you'll only do here or there then Whispersync is probably a better deal for you.
And, I think it also depends on what you want to listen to and how flexible you are. If you're willing to wait for sales, hunt for the good deals, or wait in line at the library to get the e-book, Whispersyncing can be far cheaper than the membership pricing.
But the membership is a lot more flexible. If you have particular books in mind and want to read those very specific books right now - that's where having membership credits can save you money.
For instance, in your neighbor's book, a membership is cheaper than buying the whispersynced pair. So if she often has current bestsellers that she wants to listen to right away, without delay, the membership might be the way to go.
However, if she's willing to spend however long on the wait list for the ebook or audiobook at the library, or wait for a sale on the book in question - she could spend less money with the Whispersync method... For instance, the Girl on the Train e-book was on sale for $2 in Aug. of last year. If she'd bought it and the audiobook then, she might have been able to get the pair for under $10.
Audiobooks
Books mentioned in this topic
Doctor Sleep (other topics)The Great Gatsby (other topics)
This is my first audio book since kindergarten. I used the free credit for Dr. Sleep by Stephen King. I loved it, but disliked the fact that I can't ever read it or lend it to a friend.
Can I ever convert the audio book to a written version on my kindle? So, my question is...Is it more beneficial to just upgrade your kindle book using Wispersync audible or just continue with a regular audible account?