Binaural listening system with automatic mode switching

A binaural listening system, comprising:

• first and second listening devices adapted for being located at or in respective left and right ears of a user, the first and second listening devices being adapted to establish a wireless link allowing an exchange of information between the listening devices, each listening device comprising
• a signal processing unit for processing a signal comprising audio and for performing logic actions based on one or more control inputs, and
• an antenna and transceiver unit for establishing said wireless link, the transceiver unit comprising
• a transmit control unit configured to set transmit power to a first level of transmission if first data containing a first control signal is to be transmitted and to transmit the first data with the first level of transmission power, the first level of transmission power providing a first operating transmission range and the transmit control unit configured to set the transmit power to a second level of transmission if second data is to be transmitted and to transmit the second data with the second level of transmission power, the second level of transmission power providing a second operating transmission range larger than said first operating transmission range, and
• a receive control unit configured to receive said first and second data from an opposite listening device, when said first and second listening devices are located within said first and second operating transmission ranges, respectively,
• wherein said transmit control units of said first and second listening devices are adapted to provide that said first data comprises the first control signal for performing a first action in said second and first listening device, respectively, said first action including powering down or up functional parts of the listening device,
• wherein said receive control units of said second and first listening devices are adapted to provide that said first control signal is extracted from said first data received from the respective opposite listening device,
• wherein said signal processing units of said second and first listening devices, respectively, are adapted to perform said first action based on said first control signal, and
• the transmit control units are configured to transmit said first control signal during a low-power mode as well as during a normal mode of operation of the binaural listening system, the binaural listening system consuming less power when operating in the low-power mode as compared to the normal mode.