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I like both. I think that with audiobooks, there's a second layer of the narrator but for me that's only a minor layer. Now that I've been listening to audiobooks for some years and have heard great, mediocre and terrible narrators, I have a better feel for it all. As long as the narrator isn't terrible, I'm fine, and one can generally sample a narrator first. I find often that narrators narrate most of the book well but when it comes to a character's speech, it's very hit or miss. However, this is okay; I've found that even if I don't particularly agree with the way a narrator is speaking for a character that I can still re-interpret my own way as I'm listening. Once I'm comfortable with the narrator, after the first 30 minutes or so say, I do it without thinking. I will say it's rarer for me to get a really terrific narrator but that's okay. Some people may care more about needing a great narrator or bust and may be critical of audiobooks because of this and that's their prerogative, but for me I just need an at least mediocre one. I also get that some people take the direct route of the printed-word-to-mind-by-eye very seriously and don't like the idea of the information or imagination being diluted or distorted by receiving the information auditorily or through a narrator's interpretation, but for me I just don't care any more. As long as I'm getting the information and enjoying it, I'm happy.
I've found that I mostly just cannot listen to an audiobook while doing or anticipating nothing. The best way to listen is when doing something else only slightly taxing, like travelling, waiting for an appointment, walking, light cleaning or things like that. As long as I'm doing something else I can focus on the audiobook wonderfully and half the time it makes whatever else I'm doing so much more pleasurable too.
I usually listen through the Audible app on my iPhone with earbuds in. With this I can pause whenever I need by pressing the pause button near my right ear and if I need to rewind I just pick up the phone and the screen lights up with a rewind some seconds button that I press. It's that easy. I think I can even use Siri to do that stuff too but I haven't tried.
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