I Do Love the New Full-Cast Harry Potter Audiobooks, But I Have One Complaint

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The world is full of Harry Potter content! From the new series coming soon to the original movies available on HBO Max, plus theme park rides, magical shops, and the fantastic audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, there’s always something for fans. I’ve been listening to Jim Dale’s Harry Potter audiobooks for over 25 years, and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve enjoyed them. I often listen to his calming voice while falling asleep, and it’s a perfect way to experience the magic of the series.

I was initially doubtful when Audible said they were creating full-cast recordings of these popular audiobooks. However, they’ve mostly impressed me, and I really enjoyed their take on the first book. My only issue is the actors often make unclear sounds – little noises and grunts – which repeatedly disrupt the story and are quite distracting.

All The Grunts, Moans, Hrrms, And Urrms Are Distracting At Best And Inappropriate At Worst

Right from the start, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone uses sound to create its magical world. The audiobook begins with grand music, sounds of celebration, and a welcoming introduction by Cush Jumbo. However, within the first minute of narration, Jumbo noticeably stumbles over the name ‘Mrs. Dursley.’ This is just the first of several awkward sounds – including moans, giggles, heavy breathing, and creaking floors – that accompany her reading.

I found the content a little awkward to listen to, and it occasionally struck me as slightly inappropriate. I suspect that’s just my imagination, as I’m sure it wasn’t meant to be that way. To put things in perspective, it wasn’t nearly as strange as the story I once heard about someone asking actor Jason Isaacs for an autograph… on their chest, while meeting him at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Even so, it definitely made me question what I was hearing on more than one occasion.

The Vocalizations Work Better For Some Characters More Than Others

I’m not saying these sounds were distracting. Actually, quite the opposite – many of them really improved the experience, particularly when it came to certain characters. For example, Nigel Pilkington’s portrayal of Peeves the poltergeist – it felt right that he would use sounds like cackling, moaning, whooping, and hollering.

He deliberately aims to create disturbance and disorder, and those unsettling sounds actually enhance the experience instead of taking away from it. For example, Matthew McFadden’s portrayal of Voldemort is made more frightening and captivating by his quiet, raspy voice and hisses, particularly during the climactic battle with Harry. I’m also excited to see if this same approach will work well for Gilderoy Lockhart, now that Kit Harington is taking on the role in the second book.

My main issue with the book was how the children were portrayed. Their dialogue is frequently paired with unnecessary sounds – like squeaks, shaky voices, odd laughter, or drawn-out breathing – which pull you out of the story. This was particularly noticeable during the fight with the trolls and their first meeting with Fluffy and Neville. While these sounds might fit the moment they happen, they continue for too long afterward, becoming a consistent distraction throughout the book.

The sound design is truly remarkable and pulls you right into the world of the film. Details like the sound of the Deluminator capturing light, traveling across the lake to Hogwarts, and even the atmosphere of the Great Hall all add a lot to the experience. It’s especially immersive with spatial audio headphones, which make everything feel incredibly real and alive.

I’m optimistic that things will improve as the series continues, but even if they don’t, I’ll still enjoy listening. The newest book is already available on Audible.

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2025-12-17 01:08