There are a lot of potential factors at play here sjamme. A few things to start:

-Sounds like a pocket replacement installation. This is a very common method. It sounds like you are asking if a full frame tearout "should have" been done. That depends on what you agreed to with your contractor. Full tear-outs are a bit more costly, and while they have benefits, there is not a very high likelihood that it would make a huge difference on the sound transmission front.

-Spray foam does block air flow which improves energy efficiency and also mitigates sound transmission, so there is a benefit there.

-Did your old windows have storms? A well sealed single pane/storm combo is actually pretty decent when it comes to sound transmission performance. Most new, quality double pane windows will offer superior performance, however it is not a sure thing depending on circumstances.

-I'd check the quality of the installation as well, and make sure that the windows are closed all the way, locked, and sealing well. Air leakage will be a big contributor to sound.

Covered all the big points there. We dealt with a very similar situation and it turns out the customer had soundproofing storms already installed on the home by the previous home owner. This was unknown to the current homeowner and the salesperson. The new units wound up being a bit noisier when it came to the drone of traffic. As stated above, if the storm is a heavy, monolithic section of glass and well sealed, they can work pretty well.

The vendor didn't specify how he was installing and I didn't know enough to ask but others in the neighborhood have the inserts, like the ones they installed. I'm in the SF Bay Area and don't think I have soundproofing storms. I'm about 1/4 mile from a busy freeway 101, and did not have noise transmission with the original single pane windows. Now, I hear the traffic noise throughout my house. Simonton acknowledged and reinstalled some of them with higher-quality laminated windows, but not all windows. It helped reduce sound, but still noisier than the original window. It thought this was a reasonable step to avoid a costly replacement without improvement, but they don't want to do anything with the remaining 60% of windows (2 are large sliding glass windows). My neighbor lives steps away from the freeway and there is a noticeable difference between their windows (barely any noise) and mine (audible). Others in the neighborhood who have replaced windows also noticed a decrease in noise. The vendor tried to tell me that I now hear noise because my house is not insulated, but that doesn't make sense to me. Does anyone have an idea on what kind of vendor could I call to help me validate and help me manage this? I'm still trying to work with them for a resolution but just need to start thinking about my next steps. Thanks very much for your thoughts on this issue. It is helpful.

+1. This is a fairly impossible situation to have quantified prior to replacement or to have anticipated. Sound is also a very personal and subjective measurement when it comes to the human ear as compared to instrument measurements. The only thing you can do outside of the laminated glass option is to look at interior storms which are normally a pain in the rear and not high on the customer desirable list.

Maybe pull a piece of trim and make sure they foamed the Windows .using a different style of window can have an effect ,sliders are typically louder .changing the size could have an effect as well , larger panes of glass are typically louder

UPDATE: The noise was absolutely unbearable and I had a different vendor remove and replace the sliding glass doors. Unfortunately, the first windows were not installed to the HOA specifications (full tear-out) provided to the vendor, which was my expectation for installation. The first installer slid them in and when removed, we found the foam around the window was hit or miss and the second installer identified other issues that contributed to the longevity (ie water penetration). Proper installation corrected the problem and I'm satisfied now. Thanks everyone for your helpful thoughts on this.

Glad to hear it all worked out.

This is a classic example of why, as a home owner, you really need to do your research on all aspects of the work to be done before hiring someone to replace your windows (or any other type of work on your home.) The more you know up front, the better you can spot these issues before or during the install. Read as much as you can (not just the price tag) on the different types, levels, qualities of windows, and how they should be installed. Read reviews of the products you want to use, and the installers doing the work. Not just the first 5 reviews that are all positive, read the negative ones too to see what people didn't like. Watch Youtube videos of the process so you have at least a basic understanding of the install process so you can "talk the talk" with the contractors. There's rarely a perfect product available anywhere, most of them have some sort of drawback and it's really important to know that up front. The more they see you know what you're talking about, the better chance you'll make sure to point out a full replacement in the contract, and notice immediately they're doing pocket replacements only. A few (or in some cases MANY) hours of research can save you a ton of money and frustration down the road.

Thanks for the update sjamme. Glad you’re now pleased with the performance of your new windows! As had been said previously, spray foam can make a difference in noise if properly applied.

Great feedback and this will definitely help folks realize the importance of proper installation in the future. This kind of follow up feedback is critical for folks to understand the nature and importance of selecting the right vendor/contractor for your project.