Most people speak at roughly 130–150 words per minute, while the brain can comfortably process spoken language considerably faster than that — which is why many experienced audiobook listeners play content above the default 1x speed.
Increase Speed Gradually
Jumping straight from 1.0x to 2.0x often makes speech sound rushed and harder to follow. A gradual increase — adding roughly 0.1x–0.25x every few days — lets your ear adapt without sacrificing comprehension.
Match Speed to Content Difficulty
Familiar, conversational non-fiction and light fiction tolerate higher speeds well. Dense, idea-heavy material or books with unfamiliar vocabulary and invented terminology (common in sci-fi and fantasy) are usually better followed at or near normal speed.
Narrator Pace Varies
Some narrators naturally speak faster or slower than others at the “same” 1x setting. If a narrator already speaks quickly, pushing playback speed further can reduce comprehension faster than with a naturally slower narrator.
Signs You’ve Gone Too Fast
If you find yourself rewinding frequently or losing track of plot details you’d normally catch, that’s a signal to drop back down half a speed increment rather than pushing through at a speed that’s actually reducing retention.