Researchers claim to have worked out a formula to find the perfect human voice. The study, which asked people to rate 50 voices then analysed the results, found a combination of Mariella Frostrup, Dame Judi Dench and Honor Blackman makes up the perfect female voice, while the most appealing male voice is a mixture of Alan Rickman, Jeremy Irons and Michael Gambon.
The equation represents the most pleasing blend of tone, speed, frequency, words per minute and intonation. The ideal voice should, apparently, utter no more than 164 words per minute and pause for 0.48 seconds between sentences that fall in intonation.
The research was conducted by linguistics Professor Andrew Linn, sound engineer Shannon Harris and singer Lily Allen.
You can listen to a computer simulated sample of the perfect male voice here, and one of the perfect female voice here. Let us know whether you agree with the findings - or nominate your choice for the best-sounding voice.
