Audiobooks discussion
Technical stuff
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What do you use to listen to audiobooks?
When I convert files to mp3 I keep my aax files. As it turns out I have some older aax files for books audible has dropped from my records/ history. In fact some I would have had to repurchase if I hadn't had the files.Maybe thats a reason to keep the aax files you've putchased
Looking for recommendations: currently have a Sansa Clip+ with Sennheiser neckband earphones. Problem is Sansa Clip+ doesn't do Bluetooth and I'm having trouble finding non-Bluetooth (wired) neckband headphones. So, I guess I have to go full speed ahead with a clip mp3 player that does Bluetooth and a set of neckband headphones to match. Obviously the player would have to do Audibles too in addition to plain MP3 files.Any suggestions?
Thanx to all,
Big Al Mintaka
I faced similar problem. My small IPODS wouldn't work with my new car. Easy answer was a used IPHONE. My 6S iPhone works in the car. It is small. Plays audible and MP3 using Itunes.
But then my carrier said with the new 4G network I would have to update my phone. Still possible but more expensive so...
I ended up just using my android phone and SmartAudio book. Works with Bluetooth. Works with my Jaws neckband headphones. Works with my JBL Bluetooth speaker. Works with my car. And I don't have to carry an extra device.
But I do have to use Open Audible to convert all my Audible files to MP3. Open Audible does that automatically so that is painless. It downloads the book and then converts it.
What is Open Audible?How is that different from using Audible to listen to the books in your library?
Sarah wrote: "What is Open Audible?How is that different from using Audible to listen to the books in your library?"
Here's their description....OpenAudible is a cross-platform audiobook manager designer for Audible users. Manage all your audio books with our easy-to-use desktop application.
You can convert the AAX format to MP3 with it and it can put chapter breaks in and other tweaks to make it more to your liking. I use Tuneskit and it does the same thing, very helpful so you don't lose access to your books. I wished I had it before I switched computers, lost a few books because they were returns and I couldn't download them again without paying a second time.
Sarah wrote: "What is Open Audible?How is that different from using Audible to listen to the books in your library?"
Ah - I forgot about that. Yeah occasionally I will use the audible app to listen. If one did that they would not have to convert. I use Open Audible because I keep my Audio Book library on my PC and back it up. Probably not all that necessary but I am old school.
In reality, one could just let Audible manage their purchased library in the cloud.
Can anyone recommend a clip MP3 player that can play Audible audio books as well as regular MP3 files?Thanx to all,
Big Al Mintaka
Alan wrote: "Can anyone recommend a clip MP3 player that can play Audible audio books as well as regular MP3 files?Thanx to all,
Big Al Mintaka"
I use a Sansa Sport Plus. It has an Audiobooks and an Audible folder. I only use mp3s and put my books into the Audiobook folder (drag and drop) so I presume you would just put Audible titles into the Audible folder in the same way.
My clip piece broke after a few years of use, I can recommend the little sewing clips as a replacement. I glued one onto the back of my player and it's an excellent replacement. I bought mine in Aldi during their craft special offers.
Looking for suggestions for a speaker where I can plug in my phone to listen to audiobooks at night and it has a timer that turns it off after 15 minutes, or whatever time I choose. I never used to do this, but have some health issues that make sleep harder and I found listening to an audiobook on low volume really helps. But I have been using headphones which isn't the most comfortable and they don't shut off so either it runs down the battery (and I have to backtrack a lot) or I wake up with it running and have to turn it off, which wakes me up more. I know some of you use such things, what do you recommend? Of course I could also use the speaker without a timer just to listen during the day as well. (I don't want Alexa or Google smart speakers, just a "dumb" one.)
Perhaps your solution is to keep a speaker plugged in at night so there's no drain possible? My bedside lamp has a USB slot. I use Oontz Angle Solo myself via Bluetooth.
John wrote: "Perhaps your solution is to keep a speaker plugged in at night so there's no drain possible? My bedside lamp has a USB slot. I use Oontz Angle Solo myself via Bluetooth."
That would take care of the battery but not turning off the audio.
** update** - on the iPhone I can just use the alarm/clock settings to turn off after a certain time! Probably the same for other phone brands.
Not only can I use my phone app but the Audible app has a Sleep timer option right on the main listening screen. I just never noticed because I rarely use that app - but now I will.
I used to use the Sleep function on my Clip+, it could be activated with 2 button presses even while still listening. My Sports Pro has a Sleep function but is more button presses to get to and you need to pause listening to activate it. I will always miss my Clip+
Robin P wrote: "Not only can I use my phone app but the Audible app has a Sleep timer option right on the main listening screen. I just never noticed because I rarely use that app - but now I will."That's why I love the Audible app - I use the sleep timer a lot!
The Libro.fm app also has a sleep timer.
Looks like the Sansa clips are still popular for listening to MP3 and Audible titles. Now, can anyone recommend wired (not Bluetooth) neckband headphones? I currently use Sennheiser PMX 685i Sports In-Ear Neckband Headphones but mine are wearing out and it looks like none are available anywhere.
I should have mentioned that I do a lot of walking so I need something that doesn't fall out all the time with mild activity. They shouldn't be noise-cancelling either, only noise reduction so I can hear traffic and things going on in my surroundings.
I also prefer wired (not Bluetooth) but I use buds. Just one side though. I've had more expensive, and reasonable priced buds but was quite disappointed with the life span of the pricier ones I had. One was Sennheiser and lasted no length, like weeks. Probably it has much to do with how I use them but... Anyway, I've been liking Sonarto Magnetic earphones lately. They cost only €3.99 (I get them in Homestoreandmore) and they work as well as any I've had, and are lasting well. I only listen to audiobooks with them and am not freaky about sound quality but they sound fine to me. The plus for me is that, because I like to use just one bud (and prefer not to cut one off) I can 'stick' the buds together and the unused bud is nicely out of the way so there's no tangling.
There are sets on ebay for sale now. https://tinyurl.com/4spah8ws
Now, can anyone recommend wired (not Bluetooth) neckband headphones?
I currently use Sennheiser PMX 685i Spor..."
Thanks Pamela! For some reason I didn't think of eBay and was sticking to Amazon.
Bill (Just a) wrote: "Sarah wrote: "What is Open Audible?How is that different from using Audible to listen to the books in your library?"
Ah - I forgot about that. Yeah occasionally I will use the audible app to lis..."
backing up is a good plan - I have found many older audible books that have dropped out of my audible records - yet I have the .aax file and date purchased in my back-ups. so I don't see that as old school.
Alan wrote: "Thanks Pamela! For some reason I didn't think of eBay and was sticking to Amazon."eBay is the best place for old technology, in my opinion.
As far as new products - My daughter is looking for headphones, not earbuds, but not noise canceling, she still wants to be able to hear the surroundings. She said so many of them are either super expensive or noise canceling or both. I think the normal over the head is what she is looking for. Not too bulky since she will be walking with them. Any recommendations?
The Sony's are not bad. They are not THAT noise cancelling. I sometimes wear my wife's Sony's.https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRZX110-...?
I keep my audiobooks collection in the cloud on dropbox. I listen to them on my Android phone. If I want to stream files directly from dropbox I use nPlayer, but usually with audiobooks I find it better to download anything I want to listen to my phone and use Sirin as the audiobook player. I used to use Smart Audiobook Player, which is the most popular Android audiobook player, but have switched to Sirin which has a superior interface and functionality.
I used Smart ABP for a while before switching to Listen ABP which I find to be a little better and looks nicer. I tried Sirin which has a feature to add books to a series but unless the metadata is spot on it can end up a bit of a mess. There's no option to download book covers like in Smart & Listen but crucially I often find instead of hearing "Chapter 3", "Chapter 4" etc I only get "Ch...". Having tried the same files on Smart & Listen and getting the full "Chapter xx" I know it's not an editing error, just Sirin clipping it for some reason.
So for me Listen Audiobook Player is my software of choice.
Putting in another plug for eBay. I decided to get a backup device before they disappear and found a 6th gen iPod nano in excellent condition WITH brand-new wired earbuds and a new charging cord with 30-pin connector for $65 total. The earbuds and connector each retail for about $19 at the Apple Store. I am often needing to switch my cord between car, portable charger and computer, or I can't locate my earbuds at the moment I want them. I will never get the wireless air pods because I'm sure I would lose them, and I find the wired ones perfectly adequate and comfortable. It is a bit more work to move books from Audible to the iPod since Audible changed the format but I have the process down now. And I think something has improved either in libro.fm or in iTunes because it seems I can now download libro books without messing around with individual files.
I rarely plug companies but I want to mention a place called The iSuperstore. They turned out to be the ones I got my newest iPod from through eBay. They are specialists and they send their quality products out with a sheet of instruction and even a number to call for technical help. I have never seen anything like that through eBay - it's basically a flea market, you just get the product. This company has their own website and they also sell through Amazon and other sites. If they have iPods that are a bit scratched or dented, they sell on eBay. In my case, they couldn't immediately find the specific one I ordered, so they gave me one in perfect condition instead for the same price. I did have an issue getting my new computer to recognize the iPod so I called the number and a delightful person was patient and knowledgeable. I hope to keep using iPod nanos the rest of my life. After while the power buttons stick (or I do something like dropping it in the sink), so it's good to know a reliable source.
I prefer mp3 player. I have tried to use Audible Converter to change the audiobook file format for several months. It helps me convert to mp3 format and upload them to my mp3 player! I have tried different converters before, but I recommend AMusicSoft and it will help you get many audiobooks for free. There are no guarantees for you that this method will work, but it's worth a try. This post may help you a lot. (https://www.amusicsoft.com/audible-co...)
It has come to that time where I am no longer able to use my Sansa Fuze to easily listen to audiobooks. I have been using my phone with blue tooth ear buds. I really miss the compact size of the Fuze and have been looking to see if any of the smart watches can be used with audiobooks. It appears that they can be used if you can download the apps you use to listen to the books. The main apps I am using now are Libby and Hoopla. Has anyone been using their smart watch to listen to books? Will you provide your feedback and insight about it? I like to work around the house and garden listening to books. My phone is too bulky to put into pockets if I am lucky enough to have a pocket!
I am trying to embrace new technology since it looks like what I love has been left behind.
I use my phone or iPad and borrow them from library apps.
I started this thread so long ago and I have enjoyed learning about new methods, devices and apps over the years! THANKS to all of you for contributing! Let’s keep it going!! Roslyn Grimes
Pamela, I dont have an Apple watch but your comment has made me consider getting one. I never even thought about using one for audiobooks.
I also use my phone and the kindle app so far so good. I used to use scribd but I didn’t see much of a selection and ended up on kindle or my phone.
My tab. Sometimes I listen from my MacBook Pro occasionally from my iPhone as well.
If I am home alone I use a Bluetooth speaker.At home and not alone I use what ever at a lowered volume.
In the car I Connect to the Bluetooth in the car.
At the pool head phone.
For the Many ebooks that I borrow from the library I use my IPad so those that is my only option.
I use a few different apps/services: - Libby app, connected to two different libraries (
- Audible
- Libro.fm
- Apple Books/Audiobooks app
With those, I use the following devices to listen:
- Anker Soundcore earbuds
- Car bluetooth
When I'm in the car, I will only play an audiobook if I'm alone, or if my husband and I are listening to the book together. At home, I don't listen to any speakers for audiobooks at all. Only earbuds.
I mostly listen while walking or driving, but depending on the book (is that weird?) I will listen while I'm cleaning or knitting or otherwise doing stuff around the house. Some audiobooks aren't the right type for that kind of passive listening, I think.
I agree, some books require more concentration, either emotionally or mentally.
I use Levin headphones. I am the caregiver for my sister with Alzheimer’s and the headphones allow me to still hear her when she is in another room! My listening device is my iphone.
I use my blue tooth earphones and listen while at work or exercising. I primarily use Audible but am thinking about switching to Libby to save money.
Anyone still using MP3 players (NOT phones)? I have a few Sansa Clip+'s but the batteries are old and no longer hold a charge for much time. In fact they're pretty much unusable beyond 2-3 hours before recharging is needed.I have the newer Sandisk Clip Sport Plus, but the UI doesn't work very well for playing audiobooks. For example, after power off/on it will lose place in the playback, meaning there isn't any "resume/start over" option. The only option is to start over or guess the previous location. It also won't recognize which audiobook was playing before poweroff.
I was just wondering if there were any MP3 audiobook players with decent UIs out there.
Alan wrote: "Anyone still using MP3 players (NOT phones)? I have a few Sansa Clip+'s but the batteries are old and no longer hold a charge for much time. In fact they're pretty much unusable beyond 2-3 hours be..."Hooray for us non-phone users! There have been other members who used Sansa, maybe they will chime in. I use the iPod Nano, I think it is 6th gen. It is only about 1.5 inches a side, so much easier to carry around than a phone. There are a couple of steps to get Audible books onto my computer and from there onto the device, but it works fine, you don't have to sync tracks or anything and it holds multiple books. I keep at least 2 iPods at a time and when they stop working (because the buttons stick or they no longer can load from the computer), I buy another on eBay for about $50. Best entertainment value for the money I have ever had.
Most services like Libby, Audiobooks.com, etc. require you to use an app, therefore you have to listen on a phone, smart speaker, tablet or computer. I have a feeling Audible will eventually require that too. They are already annoying in tracking how many hours I listen (very few in their records because the ones I download are invisible to them), and they changed it so you can only submit a review of an audiobook you listened to in the app. Libro.fm, which supports independent bookstores, does have a download option, but it seemed trickier to me, maybe I just haven't worked it out yet.
On the iPod, I learned the hard way, that it often stops after about 11 hours of a book, so you have to download the book in parts, which is always an option on longer books. The recording always goes immediately to the next part, so no problem.
Alan wrote: "Anyone still using MP3 players (NOT phones)? I have a few Sansa Clip+'s but the batteries are old and no longer hold a charge for much time. In fact they're pretty much unusable beyond 2-3 hours be..."I'm using the Sport Plus. I wasn't keen after the Clip+ but I have got used to it and like it well enough now. I don't have the problems you describe.
I know we all use things differently but I think I don't ever 'power down'. I use pause/resume so it probably shuts down after a certain time if I don't resume. Just my habit. Anyway, when I power up again it goes to the book I'm listening to, still paused, and I just click the pause/resume button to continue listening.
Where does your start up? What screen? The only time I don't get brought directly to my book is when I unplug from a power source, then it starts at my Books folder screen.
I've tried maybe 5 others but went back to the Sport Plus, the others were worse for me.
I'll see what happens if I shut down and will report back 👍
aprilla wrote: "I'll see what happens if I shut down and will report back ..."So I shut down twice by pressing the centre button until it went off, I did this from while it was playing and from a pause. Left it off a while and when I pressed the button to put it on again it went directly to the correct place in my book, paused. I press the pause/resume and it played the book.
I'll help if you need anything else checked out.
Robin P wrote: "Hooray for us non-phone users! ..."Hooray!
I wish I could still use my mp3 player. I get most of my books from the library via hoopla or Libby. You can no longer download them to MP3 players. You must listen to them through their apps. I really dislike using my phone, but that is what I use. I think there are youtube videos of people showing how they replaced their batteries on their sansa devices. I haven't looked lately, but you may also be able to buy refurbished ones on ebay.
Benji's Books wrote: "YouTube and Audible"But that requires a phone for YouTube, right? I'd rather not use a phone. I've found that using phones with apps doesn't work for me, because the app controls get pushed randomly with the phone in my pocket, causing all kinds of mayhem. MP3 players with hardware tactile button controls con't usually have this problem.
aprilla wrote: "I know we all use things differently but I think I don't ever 'power down'. I use pause/resume so it probably shuts down after a certain time if I don't resume. Just my habit. Anyway, when I power up again it goes to the book I'm listening to, still paused, and I just click the pause/resume button to continue listening...."I think you have a point, it's all in the manner of how the device is powered down. I've tried just pausing play and letting it shut it self down and it remembers its location if you power up after that. There are times though when you have to do other things to interrupt playback of a particular book, such as load another book, when the Sport Plus loses its position (even the book) on startup.
Robin P wrote: "Libro.fm, which supports independent bookstores, does have a download option, but it seemed trickier to me, maybe I just haven't worked it out yet...."The problem I have with Libro.fm is that the downloaded MP3 files are frequently out of order. I really can't use it.
Audiobooks
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Becoming (other topics)On Basilisk Station (other topics)
So are the downloaded books MP3? If so that might be a source for me. I could download and l..."
Ah. That would be the catch for me.