Don't just listen to the anecdotes of others.  Try for yourself.

Observe a queenright hive so you know just how it behaves normally.  Remove
the queen and watch and listen to the way they behave.  Better still have 2
matched hives close to each other so you can compare one without the queen
with one with.

Press an ear to the outside of a queenright brood  box and tap the box once.
Do the same with a queenless hive. Tell us the difference.

Chris