A headphone listening apparatus comprising: an audio listening device programmed to: receive an incoming ambient audio signal indicative of an external ambient sound; store a plurality of desired audio triggers; compare the external ambient sound to the plurality of desired audio triggers; and transmit a notification signal to headphones, which are coupled to the headphone listening apparatus, in response to the external ambient sound being generally similar to a first desired audio trigger of the plurality of desired audio triggers, the headphones being programmed to provide an audio alert to a user to indicate the presence of the external ambient sound; characterized in that the audio listening device is further programmed to: receive an indication from a user interface to enter into a simple tone detection mode, and to activate the simple detection mode in response thereto, wherein in the simple tone detection mode the audio listening device is enabled to execute a first processor mechanism adapted to detect a simple tone in the incoming ambient audio signal; and when the simple tone detection mode is not activated, compare the external ambient sound to the plurality of desired audio triggers in response to executing a second processor mechanism; wherein the first processor mechanism causes the audio listening device to consume less power than the second processor mechanism. an audio listening device programmed to: receive an incoming ambient audio signal indicative of an external ambient sound; store a plurality of desired audio triggers; compare the external ambient sound to the plurality of desired audio triggers; and transmit a notification signal to headphones, which are coupled to the headphone listening apparatus, in response to the external ambient sound being generally similar to a first desired audio trigger of the plurality of desired audio triggers, the headphones being programmed to provide an audio alert to a user to indicate the presence of the external ambient sound; receive an incoming ambient audio signal indicative of an external ambient sound; store a plurality of desired audio triggers; compare the external ambient sound to the plurality of desired audio triggers; and transmit a notification signal to headphones, which are coupled to the headphone listening apparatus, in response to the external ambient sound being generally similar to a first desired audio trigger of the plurality of desired audio triggers, the headphones being programmed to provide an audio alert to a user to indicate the presence of the external ambient sound; characterized in that the audio listening device is further programmed to: receive an indication from a user interface to enter into a simple tone detection mode, and to activate the simple detection mode in response thereto, wherein in the simple tone detection mode the audio listening device is enabled to execute a first processor mechanism adapted to detect a simple tone in the incoming ambient audio signal; and when the simple tone detection mode is not activated, compare the external ambient sound to the plurality of desired audio triggers in response to executing a second processor mechanism; receive an indication from a user interface to enter into a simple tone detection mode, and to activate the simple detection mode in response thereto, wherein in the simple tone detection mode the audio listening device is enabled to execute a first processor mechanism adapted to detect a simple tone in the incoming ambient audio signal; and when the simple tone detection mode is not activated, compare the external ambient sound to the plurality of desired audio triggers in response to executing a second processor mechanism; wherein the first processor mechanism causes the audio listening device to consume less power than the second processor mechanism.