An audio output device provided with an electro-acoustic transducer (8, 37, 59, 79, 88) that converts an electrical signal to a sound wave and radiates thus generated sound wave, comprising: sound control means (9, 17, 38, 44, 61, 66, 81, 86) for controlling the electro-acoustic transducer under any one sound mode of a small volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is smaller than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user's ear in close proximity to the electro-acoustic transducer, or a large volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is larger than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user's ear away from the electro-acoustic transducer; alarm output means (12, 27, 41, 54, 63, 76, 83, 98) for, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, outputting an alarm to call user's attention so as to protect the user's ear; proximity detection means (13, 84, 42, 64) for detecting the contact or close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance of the ear with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer; and proximity judgment means (17, 44, 66, 86) for, based on the detection result by the proximity detection means, judging whether or not the ear is in the proximity state under which the ear is in contact or in close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer; wherein, in case it is determined that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, the alarm output means outputs an alarm to call the user's attention so as to protect the ear. sound control means (9, 17, 38, 44, 61, 66, 81, 86) for controlling the electro-acoustic transducer under any one sound mode of a small volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is smaller than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user's ear in close proximity to the electro-acoustic transducer, or a large volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is larger than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user's ear away from the electro-acoustic transducer; alarm output means (12, 27, 41, 54, 63, 76, 83, 98) for, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, outputting an alarm to call user's attention so as to protect the user's ear; proximity detection means (13, 84, 42, 64) for detecting the contact or close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance of the ear with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer; and proximity judgment means (17, 44, 66, 86) for, based on the detection result by the proximity detection means, judging whether or not the ear is in the proximity state under which the ear is in contact or in close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer; wherein, in case it is determined that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, the alarm output means outputs an alarm to call the user's attention so as to protect the ear.