I tried Apple's noise-canceling AirPods 4 for the first time. I felt like a scared Victorian child.

Trying noise-canceling for the first time, I felt like a confused child. Duane Howell/Denver Post via Getty Images Noise-canceling headphones have been around for decades, but I never tried them — until now. I was so confused and freaked out by the sudden silence when I put in my new AirPods 4. I felt scared, like a caveman at a monster truck rally. Embarassing, really! It's March of 2026, and I just bought my first pair of noise-cancelling headphones. I'm shocked, astounded, perturbed, and...