An audio accessory with high and low impedance paths to a speaker is provided, and a radio therefor. The audio accessory comprises: a speaker; an audio interface to connect to a respective audio interface of the radio; a switching circuit comprising: high and low impedance paths; and a switch to connect the audio interface to the speaker via one of the high and low impedance paths, the switch initially connecting the audio interface to the speaker via the high impedance path. The accessory further comprises a data interface to connect to a respective data interface of the radio; and a controller to: in response to receiving, via the first data interface, from the radio, a message to control the switch to connect the audio interface to the speaker via the low impedance path, control the switch to connect the audio interface to the speaker via the low impedance path.