I picked the Boris 737 2024 sound pack up tonight from Orbx.  I have quite mixed feelings about it:

Pros

• The engine sounds are great. Much better than PMDG
• New sounds when passing over bumps etc (slow taxi, not take off roll) are really nice
• There are some nice new APU sounds that can only be heard when you open the cockpit window - nice

 

Cons

• The switch and knob sounds are soooo darn quiet!  This is the biggest change between older sound packs and newer ones. I'd guess the reason is realism.  Ie. how loud are switches like these in reality, from the cockpit, with systems running and potentially a headset on.  But it just comes across as a bit tame.   You can barely hear most of the switch and knob sounds.  I noticed this with Boris's 777 pack too.  but his older packs (C172, Cirrus, CRJ) had lovely satisfying "clunk" sounds 😄  Pehaps this is an area where some of us would like to depart a little from reality.  If I'm buying a sound pack, I like to hear nice, high definition, metallic and plastic switch sounds - to remind me I'm using a sound pack.  I'd guess that in a 737 cockpit, with systems running and a headset, you probably wouldn't hear any sounds from switches and knobs.  You'd feel the resistance and 'snap' in the switch but wouldn't necessarily hear it.  But as we can't feel that on a desktop simulator, I prefer louder immersive sounds.

• Another example of the above is this:-   In the PMDG 737, I always fly with the 'analogue' standby gyro, for that lovely fluttering sound. It is so quiet in this pack! ..and there's no way to adjust it.  I've definitely seen cockpit videos of older NG's where that standby gyro is making some noise!
• The headset simulation just removes almost everything. It is very muted and I coudn't even detect much thrust rumble on take off, while trying it out.  (The PMDG Headset simulation mode isn't great either).

It is high quality but it's the first Boris pack that I've had mixed feelings about.  There's just a feeling of it all being a bit muted and tame. 

This is entirely subjective, so perhaps most of you love this realistic (tm) way?

Edited January 18Jan 18 by JYW

I am thinking of getting the Boris sounds since the default are not great. I don't really mind not hearing the knobs and dials if that is the case. The click click sound of the dials in default sounds unrealistic as it is because it would be drowned out by the engines.  Its the engine sounds that really matter. The rest is just not as important at least to me.

Edited January 18Jan 18 by sanh

27 minutes ago, JYW said:

Pehaps this is an area where some of us would like to depart a little from reality. 

Maybe some, but certainly not me. 

I buy soundpacks to improve realism, not to hear what I want to hear.

I like it - it sounds authentic. What I allways dislike is the extremely loud noise of the ventilation fan in the 737s.

I agree regarding some of the switch sounds in the 777 pack. The landing light switches sound rather faint, and I struggle to hear any sound at all from the APU switch. If we are going to have sound effects for all of these cockpit items, then we need to be able to hear them, otherwise it is a pointless exercise.

I might try the Boris pack...not a big outlay.

But, I think the sounds in the 2024 PMDG version are pretty darn good.

i too find the switches incredibly quiet, if not silent. i used the 2020 version in fs24 for a while until i upgraded to the boris 2024 version, dont recall the switches and some other things being so quiet.

unfortunately i have to agree .. the APU sounds are barely present on the Exterior except for a tiny high pitched whine... no air blowing as was in the original version.. -- I barely knew the engines were on too... maybe my install is borked? im going to try re-installing when i land...

Edited January 18Jan 18 by UAL4life

The best thing about this is, we have options. If your not happy with the Boris sounds, then we can always go back to the PMDG sounds, or the PMDG to Boris.

Here is what we should be hearing with the Boris, see video below. He did say to make sure you have all sound sliders set to certain levels and not use the PMDG spatial sound setting. I know when I switched it off, my sounds were better.

From his FAQ:

boris insanity works — 1/16/2026 9:27 AMFriday, January 16, 2026 9:27 AM
VERY IMPORTANT Suggested audio settings:

Inside MSFS, sound sliders should be set to 100 for everything except Master volume, voices, other aircraft, music, and interface. Volume limiter and headphones simulation should be disabled.

In windows sound settings, spatial sound should be disabled.

 

Edited January 18Jan 18 by Wise87

17 minutes ago, Wise87 said:

The best thing about this is, we have options. If your not happy with the Boris sounds, then we can always go back to the PMDG sounds, or the PMDG to Boris.

Here is what we should be hearing with the Boris, see video below. He did say to make sure you have all sound sliders set to certain levels and not use the PMDG spatial sound setting. I know when I switched it off, my sounds were better.

From his FAQ:

boris insanity works — 1/16/2026 9:27 AMFriday, January 16, 2026 9:27 AM
VERY IMPORTANT Suggested audio settings:

Inside MSFS, sound sliders should be set to 100 for everything except Master volume, voices, other aircraft, music, and interface. Volume limiter and headphones simulation should be disabled.

In windows sound settings, spatial sound should be disabled.

What do you mean by "PMDG Spatial Sound Setting" ? I cannot find any reference to it, or are you just talking about the standard sim spatial sound setting?

I hope this will clarify rather than speculating. 

 

1 hour ago, UAL4life said:

What do you mean by "PMDG Spatial Sound Setting" ? I cannot find any reference to it, or are you just talking about the standard sim spatial sound setting?

I guess you didn't follow Roberts directions for your Windows Settings for the PMDG 737 in 2024 when it was released, not the sims settings.  

From Robert:

(If you want to enjoy the full aspect of sound built into the PMDG 737-800NG For MSFS 2024, go here in your windows settings, and select "Windows Sonic for Headphones" in your Advanced Settings/Spatial sound option: (DO IT NOW, so you don't forget!)

Edited January 18Jan 18 by Wise87

2 hours ago, Wise87 said:

I guess you didn't follow Roberts directions for your Windows Settings for the PMDG 737 in 2024 when it was released, not the sims settings.  

From Robert:

(If you want to enjoy the full aspect of sound built into the PMDG 737-800NG For MSFS 2024, go here in your windows settings, and select "Windows Sonic for Headphones" in your Advanced Settings/Spatial sound option: (DO IT NOW, so you don't forget!)

No, I definitely didnt- but this is not PMDG's either, Ive experimented on and off with the windows version as well.

2 hours ago, Wise87 said:

I guess you didn't follow Roberts directions for your Windows Settings for the PMDG 737 in 2024 when it was released, not the sims settings.  

From Robert:

(If you want to enjoy the full aspect of sound built into the PMDG 737-800NG For MSFS 2024, go here in your windows settings, and select "Windows Sonic for Headphones" in your Advanced Settings/Spatial sound option: (DO IT NOW, so you don't forget!)

Besides the sounds not being much difference it messed with other games and apps

boris is the winner.  Fantastic sounds