[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "will%20the%20victor%20stream%202%20for%20the%20blind%20currently%20play%20new%20audible%20books%2C%20or%20is%20that%20only%20the%20victor%20stream%203%20that%20has%20the%20ability%20to%20play%20newer%20recordingsaudible.com%20and%20the%20stream%203"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s what I found about the differences between Victor Reader Stream 2 and Stream 3 when it comes to playing newer Audible books, especially in formats like .aax or other enhanced/protected versions. I also explain what \u201cnewer\u201d means in this context.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd0d What Audible formats exist and what\u2019s considered \u201cnew\u201d\n\n- **.aa** format (Audible Format 4, older files; common pre-2016/-2017)  \n- **.aax** (\u201cEnhanced Audio\u201d) \u2013 more modern format used for newer audiobooks, supports higher audio quality, chapters etc.  \n- **.aaxc** \u2013 introduced more recently as a higher-protection DRM format, often streaming or protected in ways that standard players can\u2019t handle without specific updates.  \n\nWhen people say \u201cnewer recordings,\u201d they usually mean Audible books in **.aax** or **.aaxc** formats rather than just the older .aa files.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udcd8 What Victor Reader Stream 2 supports\n\nFrom the HumanWare documentation:\n\n- Stream 2 supports **Audible \u201cFormat 4\u201d (.aa)** and **Enhanced Audio books (.aax)**. ([humanware.com](https://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/victor_reader_stream_2/?utm_source=openai))  \n- To use Audible books, a user must activate the Stream by using **Audible Manager** (or Audible Sync, depending on the country/service version), which puts a special activation file on the device (in a folder called **$VRAudible**) so it can play protected Audible content. ([humanware.com](https://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/victor_reader_stream_2/?utm_source=openai))  \n- The user guide confirms that you can transfer .aax files and play them once the device is properly authorized. ([humanware.com](https://www.humanware.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Victor-Reader-Stream-4.8-User-Guide-6.html?utm_source=openai))  \n\nSo Stream 2 *can* play many newer Audible books (.aax) *if* these books are still distributed in a compatible format and the device is properly activated.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd04 What Victor Reader Stream 3 supports\n\nWhat about Stream 3?\n\n- According to evaluations of **Stream 3**, it *regained* compatibility with Audible books in its version 1.3.1 firmware update. ([avh.asso.fr](https://www.avh.asso.fr/implantations/certam/evaluations-de-produits/victor-reader-stream-3-version-131?utm_source=openai))  \n- This means it supports Audible formats such as .aax once activated. (HumanWare\u2019s \u201cStream User Guide\u201d for Stream 3 includes sections on \u201cActivating your Stream with Audible\u201d and \u201cAudible books.\u201d) ([humanware.com](https://www.humanware.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Victor-Reader-Stream-User-Guide.html?utm_source=openai))  \n- The improvements in Stream 3 include more audio formats overall, updated hardware, etc., but support for Audible books was specifically noted as *added back* in firmware updates. ([avh.asso.fr](https://www.avh.asso.fr/implantations/certam/evaluations-de-produits/victor-reader-stream-3-version-131?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \u26a0\ufe0f Important caveats \u2014 where things can go wrong\n\n- Even though Stream 2 supports .aax and newer Audible formats, *some* newer books may be distributed in .aaxc or in ways that Stream 2 can\u2019t handle, depending on the DRM or how Audible is packaging that book. In other words, *format compatibility* is necessary but not always sufficient.\n  \n- Also, you need up-to-date firmware on the device (either Stream 2 or Stream 3) and you need to use the Audible Sync software (or similar) to properly authorize the books. Without activation, the protected files won\u2019t play. ([humanware.com](https://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/victor_reader_stream_2/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \u2705 So, to answer your question\n\n- **Yes**, **Victor Reader Stream 2 can** currently play many newer Audible books (.aax files), as long as the book is in a compatible format and the device is properly activated via Audible Manager / Audible Sync.  \n\n- **Stream 3** also supports Audible books and may handle a wider or newer range of formats (including potentially more recent DRM or enhanced formats), but that doesn\u2019t mean Stream 2 is \u201conly\u201d limited to older content.  \n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can check a specific Audible book you have in mind and see if it will play on Stream 2 or not. Do you have a title or format you\u2019re wondering about?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "the%20great%20animal%20orchestra"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "I wasn\u2019t able to find specific public info confirming the exact Audible file format (e.g. `.aax` vs `.aaxc` vs `.aa`) for *The Great Animal Orchestra: Finding the Origins of Music in the World\u2019s Wild Places* by Bernie Krause. However, I can share what\u2019s known and what that suggests about whether your Victor Reader Stream 2 can play it.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udcda What is known about *The Great Animal Orchestra*\n\n- It\u2019s an audiobook published by **Hachette Audio** in **2012**. ([hachettebookgroup.com](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bernie-krause/the-great-animal-orchestra/9781611137095/?lens=little-brown-and-company&utm_source=openai))  \n- It\u2019s over 9 hours in length. ([wfae.net](https://www.wfae.net/uploads/5/9/8/4/59849633/wfae_newsletter_-_vol._9_no._3.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n- Because of its publication year and age, it is quite likely that it was originally distributed in **Audible\u2019s older formats** (such as `.aa` for Format 4) rather than newer DRM strategies like `.aaxc`, which came into broader use later. But this assumption is not confirmed in public documentation.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 What does the Victor Reader Stream 2 support\n\nAccording to HumanWare\u2019s documentation:\n\n- Stream 2 supports **Audible Format 4 (.aa)** *and* **Audible Enhanced books (.aax)**. ([humanware.com](https://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/victor_reader_stream_2/?utm_source=openai))  \n- It requires you to **activate** the device via Audible Manager or Audible Sync to play these protected files. ([humanware.com](https://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/victor_reader_stream_2/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \ud83e\udd14 Likelihood that *The Great Animal Orchestra* will work on Stream 2\n\nPutting those pieces together:\n\n- Since *The Great Animal Orchestra* was released in 2012, and considering Audible\u2019s format changes over the years, there\u2019s a good chance it is available in a format compatible with Stream 2 (i.e. `.aa` or `.aax`).  \n- If it were distributed in `.aaxc` or any format that requires a newer DRM scheme, there\u2019s a risk that it might *not* be compatible, depending on how the DRM is handled and whether the Stream 2 firmware supports that particular DRM system.\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 Conclusion\n\nBased on currently available information:\n\n- It is **very likely** that *The Great Animal Orchestra* will play correctly on your Victor Reader Stream 2, especially if you activate the device via Audible Manager/Sync and download the version of the book that uses `.aa` or `.aax`.  \n- If it is only available in `.aaxc` or another newer encrypted format, it might *not* work, as those newer formats often impose stricter DRM that Stream 2 may not support.\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can try to find out exactly what format *your specific Audible copy* uses (if you tell me how you downloaded it\u2014via Audible app, Audible.com, etc.) and check whether that format is compatible with Stream 2. Do you want me to check that?"
    }
]