A method, apparatus (100) and system (200) for altering the playback speed of recorded content (105) to match a target syllable rate is provided. A user may enter a desired, target playback syllable rate through a user interface (101), such as a keypad or touch screen. Alternatively, the target playback syllable rate may be determined from identification of the source of the recorded content (105). An actual playback syllable rate (106) associated with the recorded content (105) is then determined. The recorded content (105) is then altered, by time domain harmonic scaling in one embodiment, such that the altered playback speed (109) substantially matches the target playback syllable rate. In so doing, a listener is able to receive recorded content (105) at a faster or slower rate than it is produced. Elements that may compromise the intelligibility of the recorded content (105), including distortion (114), background noise (113), ambient noise (117) and audible intonations (115), may be measured such that the target playback syllable rate may be compensated.