A radio receiver has a radio tuner having a radio frequency input and an audio output, and an audio signal amplifying system having an audio input and an electroacoustical transducing output. A volume controller is coupled to the radio tuner and the audio amplifying system. A microprocessor is coupled to the tuner, volume controller, a visible display and an array of controls. The microprocessor is constructed and arranged to respond to actuation of the controls to cause the tuner to be tuned to a selected radio frequency, cause the display to display the frequency to which said radio tuner is tuned, cause the volume controller to set the sound level from the electroacoustical transducing output and cause the display to display a quantity representative of the volume to which the volume controller is then set and further constructed and arranged to respond to actuation of the controls to selectively couple the radio tuner audio output to the audio input while initially setting the sound level to zero when the signal on the audio output coupled to the audio input begins and gradually increasing the sound level to a predetermined value and reducing the sound level to zero when the signal on the audio output then coupled to the audio input ends.