Seeking the Best Open-Source Text-to-Speech Models for Audiobook Narration

A post on r/LocalLLaMA sparked discussion on finding the top open-source text-to-speech (TTS) models for audiobook narration capable of running in cloud environments like Kaggle notebooks. The user highlighted the need for key features such as voice cloning, expressive emotional controls, and voice consistency across generations. Generating long-form audiobooks requires TTS models that maintain a consistent voice identity while offering precise control over emotion and expression. Identifying effective open-source models with these capabilities enables creators to produce high-quality audio content locally without relying on costly proprietary APIs. The user noted limitations in existing tools, such as Chatterbox lacking emotional sliders and Google Gemini TTS failing to maintain voice consistency across outputs. They also questioned whether instruction-following models like Breeze TTS are suitable for long-form audiobook narration given their focus on real-time streaming.