A method for controlling sound reproduction from an electronic device comprising: receiving a playback sound; receiving a control signal responsive to user actuation of a single input configured to control a volume level of the received playback sound, wherein the control signal is configured to operate in accordance with a first gain curve as a function of the control signal; determining an ambient sound around the electronic device as captured by one or more microphones and wherein the received control input is also configured to control a volume level of the ambient sound in accordance with a second gain curve as a function of the control signal; in response to the control signal, controlling, with a processor, volume levels of both the playback sound and the ambient sound provided to an output channel configuration of a headphone device, wherein the control signal is divided into subsections wherein the subsections are selectable by a user via actuation of the single input, such that the respective gain values of the first gain curve and the second gain curve are different for different subsections of the control signal; and wherein controlling the volume levels of both the playback sound and ambient sound provided to a user comprises modifying at least one of the volume level of the playback sound and the volume level of the ambient sound based upon a predetermined difference between either signal levels or loudness of the playback sound and the ambient sound; and wherein the predetermined difference between either the signal levels or the loudness is different for the different subsections of the control signal. receiving a playback sound; receiving a control signal responsive to user actuation of a single input configured to control a volume level of the received playback sound, wherein the control signal is configured to operate in accordance with a first gain curve as a function of the control signal; determining an ambient sound around the electronic device as captured by one or more microphones and wherein the received control input is also configured to control a volume level of the ambient sound in accordance with a second gain curve as a function of the control signal; in response to the control signal, controlling, with a processor, volume levels of both the playback sound and the ambient sound provided to an output channel configuration of a headphone device, wherein the control signal is divided into subsections wherein the subsections are selectable by a user via actuation of the single input, such that the respective gain values of the first gain curve and the second gain curve are different for different subsections of the control signal; and wherein controlling the volume levels of both the playback sound and ambient sound provided to a user comprises modifying at least one of the volume level of the playback sound and the volume level of the ambient sound based upon a predetermined difference between either signal levels or loudness of the playback sound and the ambient sound; and wherein the predetermined difference between either the signal levels or the loudness is different for the different subsections of the control signal.