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.

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• 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...