Whether you're listening to tunes on your portable music player or just want to shut out the noise around you, headphones are your best bet. But how do you find the best-performing set for your needs—especially with tons of models to choose from, ranging from inexpensive headphones that come with your device to wireless models that cost hundreds of dollars and come with celebrity endorsements?

Consumer Reports senior editor Jim Willcox shared with Dave Graveline a few shopping tips for finding the best headphones. Also check out Consumer Reports' video: Testing celebrity headphones to find out if pricey models such as Monster Heartbeats from Lady Gaga performed well against other models in our Ratings of headphones.

Whatever model you choose, make sure you use your new headphones safely—especially with your portable media player. Studies have shown that injuries triple for pedestrians wearing headphones.

For more shopping tips, see Consumer Reports Buying guide to headphones.

About Sound Bytes
Every week, Consumer Reports experts produce a short (less than two minutes in length) audio segment which cover a wide variety of issues regarding consumer electronics and technology. These small "sound bites" can be heard on Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline. The Sound Byte that is featured in the Consumer Reports Electronics Blog is a segment that aired on last weekend's Into Tomorrow over-the-air broadcast.

About Into Tomorrow
Now in its 17th year, Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline covers the Latest in Consumer Electronics & Technology available today and... into tomorrow. The show airs on over 160 AM and FM radio stations around the U.S., on SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, radio stations in Germany, Bermuda, New Zealand, Canada and several other sources including Mobile Broadcast Network, BeOS Radio, Sprint Radio, TiVo, and many others—every weekend. "Into Tomorrow" is also heard around the world on the Armed Forces Networks in several other countries. You can also catch all Into Tomorrow episodes on the Web. (The most recent show is usually added about three or four days after it has been broadcast on the radio.)