An apparatus receives a background audio signal from an earpiece microphone. The earpiece microphone is configured to convert sound from a surrounding environment into the background audio signal. The apparatus outputs, to at least one speaker, a primary audio signal with an altered version of the background audio signal. The altered version is selectable, responsive to control by a user of a user interface, between an amount of active noise cancelation of the sound and an amount of reproduction of the sound. One example embodiment is a headset with microphones and speakers for the respective inputs and outputs.