A first earbud configured to communicate with a user media device and a second earbud. The first earbud includes a battery, a battery monitor configured to determine a power level of the battery, a mode controller. The mode controller is configured to receive a first power level value from the battery monitor and a second power level value from the second earbud and make a determination that the first earbud is operating in a primary mode in which the first earbud receives audio data from the user media device and transmits the received audio data to the second earbud. The mode controller is further configured, in response to the determination that the first earbud is operating in the primary mode, switch the first earbud from the primary mode to a secondary mode based on at least one of the first power level and the second power level.