Abstract: A preferred communications apparatus includes a pair of ear units coupled with a control unit that can be connected to a radio transceiver for delivery of audio signals therebetween. The control unit includes a VOX circuit. Each ear unit includes a transducer operable as an earphone, and one of the ear units is operable as a microphone. Additionally, each ear unit includes an ear piece configured for attenuating ambient sound and signal sufficiently to meet safety standards and sufficiently to prevent attenuated ambient sound from triggering the VOX circuit.