Recently, I switched back to SAFARI after using CHROME or years. (I haven't used Firefox in over a decade, so cannot comment from any recent experience with it.)
SAFARI's own ad blocking (Preferences/Security) is pretty effective, I must say. It blocks just about everything you mentioned with consistency. By default, the video sound is muted, but you can then "turn on" and listen to any you choose.
RE: ". . . This is with ad blocking turned on. I assume something is being blocked . . ."
Not necessarily. Perhaps your Ad Blocker of choice needs an update?
