A hearing protection headset that can be worn by a user includes left and right earcups. The headset includes a radio communication system enabling at least one radio signal to be received and played through one or both of the earcups. Noise control circuitry in the headset is configurable by a user between at least three active modes of operation—the circuitry having a first active mode in which the headset provides automatic noise reduction, a second active mode in which the headset provides automatic noise cancellation, and a third active mode in which the headset provides both automatic noise reduction and automatic noise cancellation. A switch is manually operable by the user to configure the circuitry between the first active mode and the second active mode and the third active mode.