[frosted-flakes]

You can't? Refrigerators have always made a noticeable background noise as they cycle on and off.

The advantage of the newer variable speed scroll compressors in some high end fridges is that they can run continuously at a slower speed.

[bigstrat2003]

I'm not the same person, but I do not (and never have) noticed any noise when my fridge is running. Whether that means we have different fridges or different tolerances for noise, I'm not sure.

[akvadrako]

It's tolerance. I've bought several of the quietest fridges and they all bother me. Old fridges sound nicer but newer ones are actually quieter.

[esseph]

Is it the fridge noise in particular or all noises that you find you are sensitive to?

[akvadrako]

In practice the fridge is the only common thing. Most stuff in a house is quiet or, like fans or furnaces, make simple sounds that are easy to ignore.

[globular-toast]

More likely you have a noisier house/neighbourhood. I used to think my PC was silent until I moved to a quiet place and then I could suddenly hear it very clearly.

[esseph]

In an "open home" concept I guess it might make sense, but I've never lived in a place like that.

I guess all of the places I've lived the kitchen was always its own room, maybe adjacent to the dining room if anything.

No new appliances (>10y now I think about it, they came with the house.)