16 hours ago, tttocs said:

All I really want in a sim headset emulation is to cut back the more obnoxious noisy bits (basically engine/prop noise) to avoid fatigue in cruise.

Taking things too far would take the fun away!

But when it's done properly, it is truly amazing. The A2A noise cancelling headset is done well, but nothing comes close to what COWS have done, in both the DA-40 and DA-42. It's not about listening to 'silence'. There are subtle frequencies going on that perfectly depict the real life equivalent. The parts (frequency ranges) that are muted by the feature are identical to what we hear in real life. It's just very realistic and therefore, very immersive.

Having engine sounds universally attenuated by around 80%, and then having loud clunks from switches and levers is very immersion-breaking. I guess it all depends on the level of quality that a developer wants to go to, in terms of immersion. In most plane addons, I wouldn't necessarily expect the COWS level of depiction. But as this is a sound pack, and it's sole objective concerns sound, I'd expect a better level of quality from the headset function.

If all a headset simulation is, is turning the engine sounds, then you don't even need it as a feature in a plane or sound set. Just use this free utility, which gives you control of all of MSFS's volume levels - within the sim (no need to exit to menu) and turn down the engine sounds:- 🙂

https://flightsim.to/addon/114156/lvc-live-volume-control

A headset feature should be more than this. I think it comes down to how sound in general is perceived as important in the sim. Flying an aircraft in a visceral experience. So for me, sound is as equally important as visuals and realistic systems.

2 hours ago, JYW said:

A headset feature should be more than this. I think it comes down to how sound in general is perceived as important in the sim. Flying an aircraft in a visceral experience. So for me, sound is as equally important as visuals and realistic systems.

Um... yeah. Sound is EXTREMELY important to me as well, so no that's NOT what this discussion comes down to. I flew the TBM less and less as time went on because I simply couldn't get "into it" between the mediocre sounds and the constant prop buzz at cruise. This sound set has brought this plane back towards the front of the hangar for me, so pretty good value as far as I'm concerned.

This headset sim thing you speak of really has me confused, but perhaps you flew with different aviation headsets than I did. As you know (but others reading may not) the average GA plane is an UNBELIEVABLY NOISY place, and that's not a good thing for either focus or fatigue. Good noise attenuating aviation headsets do a remarkable job of killing the highs and mid-tones and a rather poor job with the low frequency stuff. Active cancellation ups the game and adds extremely good low frequency attenuation. I dunno about you, but the only time I'd hear switch clicks in my plane while wearing my headset (David Clarks and then Bose) was if I did something that broke squelch on the intercom while flicking said switch. I don't want that in sim, because without all of the other physical cues we had while flying for real, taking the sound away to that level would kill immersion.

I don't have have either of the COWS planes as I'm not a fan of the G1000 in the sim - RW is a whole 'nother thing, of course - so I can't speak to their sounds, though I read nothing but good things about them. But it sure seems like they've simply done something you subjectively like in their headset sim. Fair enough and maybe I'd like it too, but I do know what a good headset does IRL, and I know I don't want that in sim.

Bottom line is I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

Scott

With my headset on in the musketeer, and ANR enabled, I don't hear any switch clicks. Mostly just engine noise.

On 8/22/2026 at 8:26 PM, echo19tyler said:

Totally understand. We made the decision to focus this package exclusively on MSFS 2024 so we can put our development and support resources into delivering the best experience possible on the current platform.

Supporting both platforms would mean splitting those resources, and we’d rather do one version exceptionally well than two versions with compromises.

If you’re staying on MSFS 2020, I completely understand that this particular package won’t be for you.

I understand that you do not officially support MSFS 2020, and that even answering the following question does not promise any amount of product support.

Does this pack work on MSFS 2020 at all (may I try it at my own risk) or is it confirmed to just error/artifact/crash/not activate?

18 hours ago, PerfidiousLeaf said:

I understand that you do not officially support MSFS 2020, and that even answering the following question does not promise any amount of product support.

Does this pack work on MSFS 2020 at all (may I try it at my own risk) or is it confirmed to just error/artifact/crash/not activate?

It won't load at all, sorry :(