There is nothing confusing about this video. VR Flight Sim Guy has a passion for flying in VR. He has a number of different headsets that he rotates between. He helps many people get a better experience out of whatever headset they own which is appreciated by many who may not own the latest flavor of the week. But the root passion is flying. The headset is just a means to an end. EVERY SINGLE headset available today has compromises and strengths and weaknesses. There is no one headset that satisfies everyone's needs. Taken together information like this video and others can help someone see if a headset aligns with their personal priorities. These headsets are a temporary thing. Lots of cool new headsets are under development. Find something that works for you and enjoy it until you are ready for the next cool new headset.
"Currently" being the important word. It actually ended up being 34c / 94f. Hot, but still cooler this summer compared to 2022 when some private weather stations in central / southern England recorded provisional temperatures of 43c / 110+ f.
I have had my Crystal for a couple of days now and like them a lot. They are not as easy to use as the Varjo's but I'm hoping to get used to them. I do like both head set equally so far. I do agree that the air in the Varjo is a great thing. Thank you for your videos and expertise on the VR subject
Fascinated that the frames per second comparison for the two headsets even accounting for the same rendered resolution being higher on the Aero by as much as 5-7 fps, presumably with frame interpolation off just slips by in passing. Thats like the difference between a 3080 and a 4090!
Great video! Reason Number 11 for me has to be working Dynamic Foveated Rendering in DCS world. It was so amazing to crank up most of the settings I had always set low and it have no effect on FPS because of DFR. That really made a huge difference to me. I'm sure given time this feature will likely come to the Crystal, but it is not there yet. Eye Tracking is now a feature I really watch for regarding future headsets.
OMG for what? They didn't have other choice due to the strong competition. Consider you still have to buy two base stations, plus two controllers and this alone takes you to somewhere around $1600 in cost at the very least if you want Aero. And that is the exact same price Pimax asks for the Crystal, a HMD with superior visual quality and better FOV compared to Aero.
Let’s see, after you purchase an audio solution, bay stations and controllers, the price of the Varjo becomes ~ $1,000 more expensive. And all of that for a smaller FOV, reduced clarity, less contrast, etc. Like you Steve, I wear a motorcycle helmet and rode 2,800 miles in a week with it. I can’t see the Pimax size being an issue for simming. For me, I am looking for the most immersive video and audio fidelity with the largest FOV. I can live with the other trade offs. I preordered my Crystal today now that Pimax has resolved the glass lenses, power hub, and packaging launch issues. Software should only improve from here.
Gotta say, the fans cooling in the Aero are absolutely a trump card for me against any headset. I absolutely HAVE to have it, and I have found I cannot live without it, actually. So, the Aero remains my fave as well. Also, everything from FSAcademy is incredible! I literally own every package they have, and have done all of their flights and training. They are incredibly well done.
I can not make it any clearer than this. DO NOT BUY A SINGLE THING FROM PIMAX!!!! They refused to fix my 8K for a year. They offered me £20 to remove my review off Amazon. As a gamer to a gamer, do not give them a penny.
Was it still under warranty? If so why did they refuse to fix it? Did you eventually get it fixed or replaced? Thanks!
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Loved the tip using the menu button to get out of VR without having to take the VR headset off. Amazing how I've had the Varjo Aero for a year without realizing/thinking of that possibility. Comes in very handy to check any text messages when flying online on Vatsim 👍
It gets hot where my computer is located (no air conditioning), and I can say that the fan in the Aero is a life saver. I can only compare to the Reverb G2, but when it got hot the G2 fogged up within a few minutes. I was constantly removing the headset and cleaning the lenses, not to mention that it was just plain uncomfortable in the summer. The Aero stays cool and the lenses are clear even when the rest of me is hot. That's a game changer for me.
@@cheeeeezewizzz Ah! Probably very good advice for most users, but for me the fogging didn't start until I had the headset on for a while, and started sweating profusely inside the headset. Not only would the lenses fog up, but the sweat would drip into my eyes. It could be that I am a much sweatier guy than most users (an accusation I won't deny), or it could be that I was using the headset in conditions that it wasn't intended to be used. In any case, the Aero stays cool and fog free in the same conditions (it's 85F in my house now, and I am sweating quite a bit). I tried using a strong fan blowing on my face. That cooled me down but didn't stop the sweating inside the headset. There must be a reason Varjo took the trouble of adding a fan to their headsets -- maybe just to help out us sweatier folks. (Then again, it could just be that my takeoffs and landings would make any sensible person sweat.)
Build quality and the companies reputation is why i chose the aero. I want a hmd that will last and have comfort in knowing that varjo is in the vr space to stay because of their enterprise endeavors
@@REDxFROG statistics. Steve said that for himself had over 1000hrs with zero issues. A tonne of owners on the aero discord report same but if something does go wrong after warranty, varjo is a solid company and will work something out for us.
I'm about to upgrade my HP G2 and am looking at they beyond/crystal/aero. beyond is out, although the slim form factor is nice, resolution is not up to par IMO. I was originally leaning crystal but I've heard so many mixed reviews with people having horror stories about the headsets not working half the time or some people at all, even later consumer models. I think between those worries and the higher fps on aero models reported by many, the aero is starting to edge the crystal out for me. I feel like I'm taking less of a risk with the aero from being disappointed. At the end of the day dynamic fov is important, fps is important and resolution is important. I think the 5 fps on the aero might make up for the slightly nicer blacks/colours in the crystal for me as fps is everything in VR which I've been struggling with since my day 1 purchase of G2 on 2080, then 3090 now 4090. 4090 is my first experience with decent frames in VR but still a bit of a struggle sometimes in MSFS for instance or marianas in DCS. Hoping DFOV will change this for me.
Another great video, always like to hear your take on this stuff. Makes me wonder what Varjo is doing behind the scenes. Surely they have something in the works as the Crystal and possibly the Somnium VR1 start to overtake their position? I can only imagine how good an Aero 2 could be.
Valve has never once released a piece of hardware and actually released an update for it. They wont even release Half Life 3. You would think people would know by now. People in Valve arent given projects. They can start their own whenever they want and they can shift to any project they want whenever they want. The individual workers decide what gets made and what doesnt. So only the project found most interesting by the staff themselves actually gets made.
Most things are not activated on the Crystal. Joshua is happy to tell everyone that they should have read the small print and that nothing was planned to work at launch. Pimax are a joke. Serioulsly, the launch of the Crystal was a complete mess.
@brettgrieves Not most things. All of the basic functionality is working. You can connect the headset, pick up the controllers, and play a game. Software updates will improve performance over time as is normal for vr tech. The eye tracking and auto IPD are being tested right now. We have gone through 3 updates in the last week tweaking performance internally. Im showing them at the Flight Sim Expo in Houston this weekend. Dynamic foveated rendering should come soom after. As for the motion smoothing its my understanding it needs an update as well. Wireless and Standalone are the 2 features that were 100% advertised at all times as not being available at launch, as well as the accessory faceplates. Our product launch was watched by over 500,000 people across all languages and platforms. We never hid that those features would be activated via OTA. I think most customers do research a 1600 dollar purchase before making it. A few difficulties at the start of shipping were unfortunate, but most issues should be resolved already and we are fixing all affected customer orders. We are even switching the 42ppd lenses for a set of wide fov lenses after listening to our customer feedback which indicated the 42ppd lenses (meant for virtual desktop and design applications) weren't really our end consumer's cup of tea.
@@WhatsupAbroad sounds very promising, really looking forward to finding out more about the new wider fov lenses, great idea to ditch the 42 version for wider fov :)
@@VRFlightSimGuy Will you have 10 reasons you will like it better than the Aero? 1) it has better visuals. 2) see reason number 1. 3) see reason number 1...
@@VRFlightSimGuy I think it's important that people understand it's OK to have different priorities and that their can be multiple headsets that work well for different people's needs. Things don't need to break down into a battle of the brands with only one headset left standing. It's better to have many options to pick from and competition to help motivate improvements. In the end this is all for the enjoyment of whatever we do in VR, not about what we own to support that enjoyment.
got the crystal for a week or so and its pretty mindblowing apart from the bad tracking but that will be gone with the LH plate,the panels with the qled and local dimming also no distortion at all is really neat the fov is small coming from the 8kx ofc but i dont see how overall the aero would be better in image quality,just the fact they aint still enabled the local dimming is weird because it works great in all games ive tried the crystal with,skyrim at night is insane.
I played F1 23 in the Varjo Aero for about 5 hours straight, maybe if I had to charge the headset it would have been a good thing because I would have taken a break from the game lol.
Hi Steve! After watching your video, I have just ordered a Varjo Aero (they’re offering 2 base stations for free). Upgrading from a Reverb G2. I had preordered the Pimax but was tired of waiting. Looking forward to my Aero VR sessions 😊.
@@mindfulmunchkin1215 I love it. Very comfortable, very crisp views, excellent performance due to great software. No reasons to complain here. The base stations help to make the view MUCH amor stable than with G2 inside out tracking. To my eyes, the clarity is similar to the center zone of the G2 with 150% oversampling. Before buying, I recommend you to compare pros and cons with the Pimax Crystal. I did the comparison and opted for the Aero, and I am happy with my decision. But there is (still) no such thing as a perfect headset - all have pros and cons.
Nice and im sure both headsets are good for some people, I'm just a casual vr user and was looking for something at a reasonable price and noticed Brand new Quest Pro's can be had for £650.00. Did a little research on the DCS forum and noticed quite a lot using the Quest pro with great success and really enjoying it especially the new pancake lens and full clarity across the screen. Convinced me at that price and will probably be more than good enough for just doing this sort of thing, just wanted something better than my old quest 2. Surprised this channel hasn't reviewed one yet.
@@kevinbrook7033 i guess lots of surplus stock that never sold, i have only had mine a few days and now found you can get them even cheaper £504 stockx, got mine off the bay from someone who had sold quite a few. I wanted one from the start but not at £1500, love my Quest pro, quality piece of kit and got me interested in vr again, not used my quest 2 for over a year, it was horrible for many reasons.
Hey man. I’m only looking to use the Varjo Aero for DCS and MSFS. Must I buy the base stations for the headset to function properly for these? Can’t find info on this anywhere.
"Currently" being the important word. It actually ended up being 34c / 94f. Hot, but still cooler this summer compared to 2022 when some private weather stations in central / southern England recorded temperatures of 43c / 110+ f.
Ok, watched this vid...Now I'm very confused. I was about to pre-order the Pimax Crystal. I have the G2 right now, and pretty satisfied with it, but with all the hoopla on the Pimax Crystal (from your previous vids), it was a better choice. I'm a flight and racing simmer who wants the best from a headset. So, what is the verdict on ordering the Pimax Crystal...sorry, this is a sore subject!
After having the Crystal for a week I'm returning it and staying with my trusty Reverb G2. The Crystal weighs twice that of the G2 and the added weigh rests on the bridge of my nose. Batteries are nearly impossible to get out of the charger and back of headset. Crystal crashes my main sim (IL2 Sturmovik) shorty after loading even with settings on minimum and I have a 13900k, 32Gb DDR5 RAM and RTX 4090. Crystal's FOV is 2 degrees wider than the G2 - no noticeable difference. The image is slightly better than G2 but since it constantly crashes I can't give it a fair comparison. To sum it up the Crystal is not worth $1,600 when you can get the same experience with less hassle for a third the price.
Hi Flight Sim Guy and I’m confused also. Based on your previous videos that I watched, I got the impression that for the money, you preferred the Crystal over the Varjo due to the higher clarity.
This is a great video on the Aero, but I would suggest you also go watch a video by Matteo311 entitled Why does Pimax do this. Two VR reviewers, that I also respect, talk about the good points but also really lay into the issues with the Crystal. I have the Aero and plan to get a Crystal in about a year when/if all the features are working and the faceplate is available. Local Dimming is the only feature I want over the Aero at the moment so I can wait for now.
@@agordon20024 I had the same issue with it resting on my nose until I figured out that using the extra comfort facepad and letting it rest on my forehead made all the difference. It's now very comfortable. The image of the crystal is much better than the G2 (I had one and returned it) so I'm not sure if we're seeing the same thing. Also, regarding IL, was it fully crashing or did you have weird stutters? I ask because I had my crystal in MSFS and there was this weird stutter even on the home screen with my 4090. I removed MSI Afterburner and it helped with other games but not MSFS. It's weird because I show 60-70fps but still super juddery. I think they may be having issues with the 4090 graphics card? Or maybe it's just my system. I'm going to reinstall windows to see if that helps. So yes, there are still issues but I'm keeping mine just due to the amazing image quality.
Hi Steve: I recently upgraded to a 13900k and 4090, similar to your StormForce rig; although I’m still using a Reverb G2. No Aero for me yet, I wonder if you could do an updated / detailed vid regarding setup and settings? I know I would be grateful as would many of your fans. Keep up the good work! Thank you for the great content!
@@Q80100 - After following the recent settings guide posted by Steve, I’m averaging 58 FPS in most scenarios with dips into the 40s at densely populated areas, in VR.
Now having both I think I’d agree with MOST of what you say but honestly I think 90% of people that are looking at both will be better served with the Crystal…at this time mind you! The superior FOV of the Crystal can’t be overstated…it’s not a HUGE difference but enough that I’d go Crystal all day long!!! Now I’m no fanboy of any brand so I HOPE we get a Varjo Aero 2 and I’ll be all over that as well!!! But for now I’m sorry the Crystal is the “clear” winner! The build quality isn’t as far away as it used to be. Apple will kill them all so don’t even think about Apple in build quality that’s a non starter. 🎉 lol
@@manic_miner Yes largely the FOV. It’s the one big drawback for me when I first put the Aero on. The Crystal might also be a hair clearer that’s even possible 🤔😊 I can’t wait to see what an Aero 2 might be…hope they are working on one!!!
The visuals on the crystal are amazing and unbeatable, and I do own the AERO. I have had some issues though. I had issues with no sound, and the solution was to change display ports. My controllers also disconnect from time to time and the solution for that is to pause the headset with A quick press of the power button and then again to turn the screens back on and the controllers automatically reconnect. As far as the controllers are concerned, the tracking isn't good enough at the moment for shooters, nor table tennis or at all. Its barley adequate. You can play games but you will have some significant tracking issues. Premium bowling is one of my favorite relaxing games to play and I couldn't even get the ball to go without having to hold it directly in front of me and throw it unnaturally. Also after all day of trying and reconfiguring different things , for now I was able get rid of or eliminate the world movement that I was experiencing, for the most part. I have two rigs, one was having this issue and the other wasn't. I swamped gpu's and rolled back drives and everything to fix it. Something worked but I'm not sure what actually did it for me. Lastly, we must reach out to pimax and implore that they get us the light house module as soon as possible. Most of the games I platy will not be enjoyable with the state of the tracking at this moment. When trying to aim, your aim will be all over the place and is way to inconsistent. With all that being said, I'm loving is, and will all things are ironed out, its gonna be epic.
Just a technical point, but Basestation tracking is not "outside-in tracking". Your use of the term is a misnomer. Basestations are markers, not sensors. Basestation tracking is actually also a form of inside-out tracking, but requires these markers rather than using any arbitrary visual references in your playspace. The original Oculus Rift CV1 is the only popular VR headset that ever used outside-in tracking. Compared to actual outside-in tracking, Basestation tracking has the significant advantage of not being cabled to the PC.
Ye my 8kx would also be sacrificed. Pimax do make decent headsets but the way they release products is so bizarre. I'm convinced a varjo large fov competitor would completely dominate the market.
Just hold out for the Pimax 12K QLED to be released towards the end of this year or maybe early next year. If it's worth having... it's worth waiting for. That's what **I** always say! ;-)
As a software engineer I spent all my working life dealing with bugs, and so my tolerance for this in my personal time is zero. For this reason I'm just not interested in being a Pimax beta tester. I'll stick with my Pico 4 until Pimax produce a next gen product hopefully with better VFOV and contrast, surely it can't be that long as the Aero is two years old now?
Would you be so kind to explain your mod in a video on your channel? I was thinking of such a mod myself but my Crystal wasn't shipped yet... Never mind, if you have plans to sell them.
@@driflysh4597 no plans to sell at all - the models and instructions will be freely available. I’m pretty happy with the model, just need to finish off with some filter foam to prevent light leakage and find exactly the right fan for the job.
Hey Steve , I have a Pico4 and get about 45fps with an i5 12400f with a 3080ti. If I did a straight swap of the CPU and put in a i9 13900 with current msfs settings would that be enough of an upgrade to get upto or around 90 fps ?
What do you mean by better tracking from the Aero? My biggest issue with the Aero is that the tracking is too sensitive, picks up too much vibrations and makes it inconvenient for motion platforms and sim racing. Maybe I would like the tracking to be "worse"?
It's absolutely crucial to have every tiny bit of movement of your head represented in the headset. Otherwise it will induce motion sickness much faster.
@@REDxFROG Not really, in fact the Quest 2 tracking is a lot smoother, feels more analog and natural and never had any issues with motion sickness. The first time I felt I could get motion sickness was the first few days with the Aero, and that is because it picks up some movement/vibrations that you wouldn't see in real life, and a clear example is when you are in virtual desktop with your head still and you can see the shaking caused by your heartbeat, does you heartbeat move your eyes in real life as well?
@@VRFlightSimGuy mmmh lighthouse is inside out tracking. LoL We never had the right (short) wording for camera based inside out tracking vs. marker based inside out tracking. It just triggers me when someone says "lighthouse vs inside out". 😂
@@arminglf lighthouse picks up movement which isn't visible in real life is totally new to me. It can pick up the heart beat but the Quest2 cannot? If the brain compensates a visible movement of the head, it doesn't matter if the eye collects this information by screen or naked eye. So your example is pretty busted. If you're using a jackhammer using the Quest2, it will smooth out everything, right? And the Index would render all the jittery movements. That's not okay? Because the headset on the head would do counter movements anyway. LoL it wouldn't stick to the head. 😂 Nah, lighthouse is super precise and the best way to track VR equipment. But there are a few things to take care of when setting it up, so it's not messing up the tracking.
Your videos are so confusing. In one video you clearly say the Crystal is now the best simming headset and you always fly using it. In another video you are now listing all the reasons why the Aero is better and say if it wasn't for the content creation you would be using Aero? Very mixed and inconsistent messaging,
We all have our different reasons for why we prefer one headset over another. I clearly state the Crystal is my favourite (for my needs), but also highlight areas the Aero is better, since there may be deal breakers for you. It's critical thinking and ensuring I cover all use cases.
If you believe that, then kindly check out my recent DPVR review. I post what I like and say what I like.. but thankyou for the trolling, it really support the RUclips algorithms. 😁
@@Killswitch1411 The Crystal is $400 cheaper than the Aero, but most of the things you want working on the Crystal dont, auto IPD, eye tracking, DFR, base station tracking, 120hz mode, standalone mode, and the build quality is significantly better on the Aero. Would I rather pay for a fully working device thats better build quality and has a track record of excellent hardware for an extra $400 YES, so Id opt for the Aero everytime.
@@brettgrieves That's ignoring that you need to already have lighthouse base stations and controllers, and also some sort of audio solution - either you already paid for them, or you have to buy them so it's a cost you need to consider in the comparison. The Varjo is a very expensive proposition when you look at the entire package, the crystal comes with everything in the box, and a very good audio solution - though to be fair it sounds like the DMAS is only a temporary perk as standard for pre-orders.
@@brettgrieves Cool so you made a decision that fits your needs. Auto IPD isn't a must have feature I set my IPD and forget about it as I already know my IPD, 120hz does work on my setup, don't care about standalone right now. I have a Aero, so I know everything it does better and does worse. Crystal visual quality is better than the Aero and its not just a little bit better even the FOV is better, colors are better they actual did some work and have local dimming. Aero should be miles better for the cost and and you don't even get audio, Controllers, Base stations. Now you're just bleeding money and the Aero is even worse of a idea right now at the current time. I'm happy you need to defend Varjo to this extent, but Aero for new buyers is just a stupid idea.
No way in hell can a normal person swap the batteries in less than a minute. The tabs on the battery are rigid. They don't flex at all to aid in releasing their grip and need to be pried out of both charger and back of headset.
@@agordon20024 I seen a RUclips reviewer complain about that. I’m not a fan of the battery thing either on a PCVR headset. I’ve had two bad experiences with Pimax and for as much as I want to give the Crystal a chance I have cancelled my order. The Varjo is more my style with excellent build and as mentioned many times, excellent software.
@@briank3754 I would buy a Varjo in a heartbeat if it had audio. Can't imagine what they were thinking by not including headphones and mic in the $3000 package.
@@agordon20024 i got the Varjo for $1700 and if you buy the Base stations directly from Steam they are $150 each. But even so, $2k with no audio. I actually like having headphones and still get the directional audio as long as you plug into the audio jack on the headset. I never use a mic so that isn’t a concern for me at least. The Varjo feels like a $2000 product though and I can see it holding up well over time. Not sure what that’s worth to others, but I do appreciate the quality. You also get a lot of advanced features and the fans.
With all the discussion about the Varjo Aero Vs the Crystal... there's no mention of the upcoming Pimax 12K QLED? The fact that the 12K is right around the corner should _definitely_ be a factor in any buying decisions made 'today' IMHO! :-)
Dang it Steve, I am now going to put a dent in my wallet and get the Aero... no regrets. Thanks for your insight! Bye bye , G2 sitting in Grapevine, TX repair facility.
My crystal has arrived today and I mainly bought it for MS2020. From my point of view it isn't worth the money. Especially In comparison to my Pico4 wich is far cheaper and also much better accessible in terms of setting- up, controller tracking etc,. I have two big issues with the Crystal, first: when I look in the distance in ms2020 it's just blurry and not so crystal as expected. The second point is finding and keeping the sweet spot is a real hassle, due to its bulkiness. Don't get me wrong, everything what is the near is crisp and for most other games it is not noticeable and the comfort, build quality isn't bad at all, but this blurriness in the far distance in MS2020 is for me is unbearably (yes , my unit has glas lenses. Btw. The controller tracking and technology is rubbish, always need to turn on/off the headset to reactivate the controllers. The initial Installation was bumpy as well. Connection worked out of the box, but at the beginning the displays flickered on the edges and the picture was completely off. After a restart of my System it worked just fine, somehow. Probably I will refund it, If i cannot find a solution. BTW, I preordered the Crystal in April, but did not get any email notice for final payment, so I bought it here in China from JingDong京东, and it arrived within 3 days, DMAS headphones was inklusive 🙂. Unfortunately i have to wait for another generation of HMD. Its an absolute niche product and only for simulations appropriated (if you don't making any quick movements, otherwise the HMD will move and you have to find the sweet spot again). Sorry Pimax, but the last 8 hours was not funny at all and for this 11999 RMB or 1599 Euros? As I mentioned before, at least for me it is not worth the money. My System is 5800x3D & MSI 4090GTX , Windows 11
Whhhhhat? Well, thankyou for sharing your experiences, I respect your opinion but I'm also bemused. While the Pico 4 is a great headset (I use my all the time), the Crystal is in a totally different league visually. Especially when it comes to further out, there's no blurring at all with 2 headsets I've tested now. VR is such a strange thing I tell you, right now, my RUclips comments are inundated with people elated at the visual quality now they are finally receiving the headset. I'm just sorry it hasn't worked out for you. Really I am.
@@yellowflash111 It took me seconds to bind my Index controllers when I setup the Aero and I didn't even need to set the room boundaries. It kept the same extents I setup on my Index over 3.5 years ago.
The G2 is still the best value in VR! But I’m loving the Aero. I have kept my G2 and it will be my new travel headset. I’m all to happy to get rid of the Quest 2. I just built a small form factor PC to replace my laptop and support my VR habit when I am traveling.
@briank3754 very cool! I'd love to have an aero but I just blew all my money on a 4090 and virpil controls when I discovered msfs2020 about 2 months ago. I traded a set of golf clubs for a like new g2 v2. So I may buy either an aero or crystal when I save up some. Or maybe if the new valve or something else hits market by then I will consider those. I'd love to have an enthusiast level headset.
Steve, do the lenses fog-up in the Crystal? I hated that in the G2, couldn’t stand it at all. Now that I saw this video, after having watched all of your Crystal videos, I am not sure about the Crystal anymore, I was all in before this!
@@VRFlightSimGuy it happened a lot with G2. I don’t know…1500 USD for a headset that fogs?! That’s a much tougher decision/sale now. Thanks for the reply.
There is nothing confusing about this video. VR Flight Sim Guy has a passion for flying in VR. He has a number of different headsets that he rotates between. He helps many people get a better experience out of whatever headset they own which is appreciated by many who may not own the latest flavor of the week. But the root passion is flying. The headset is just a means to an end.
EVERY SINGLE headset available today has compromises and strengths and weaknesses. There is no one headset that satisfies everyone's needs. Taken together information like this video and others can help someone see if a headset aligns with their personal priorities.
These headsets are a temporary thing. Lots of cool new headsets are under development. Find something that works for you and enjoy it until you are ready for the next cool new headset.
THANKYOU so much for this comment. You've truly understood not only the purpose of this video, but the channel as a whole. That means a lot 🙏
"Currently" being the important word. It actually ended up being 34c / 94f. Hot, but still cooler this summer compared to 2022 when some private weather stations in central / southern England recorded provisional temperatures of 43c / 110+ f.
I have had my Crystal for a couple of days now and like them a lot. They are not as easy to use as the Varjo's but I'm hoping to get used to them. I do like both head set equally so far. I do agree that the air in the Varjo is a great thing. Thank you for your videos and expertise on the VR subject
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for your kind support 😊
Fascinated that the frames per second comparison for the two headsets even accounting for the same rendered resolution being higher on the Aero by as much as 5-7 fps, presumably with frame interpolation off just slips by in passing. Thats like the difference between a 3080 and a 4090!
Great video! Reason Number 11 for me has to be working Dynamic Foveated Rendering in DCS world. It was so amazing to crank up most of the settings I had always set low and it have no effect on FPS because of DFR. That really made a huge difference to me. I'm sure given time this feature will likely come to the Crystal, but it is not there yet. Eye Tracking is now a feature I really watch for regarding future headsets.
Thankyou 😊 I nearly mentioned this but soon, the Crystal will also have this feature.
OMG, the Aero just (permanently) dropped to €990!
OMG for what? They didn't have other choice due to the strong competition. Consider you still have to buy two base stations, plus two controllers and this alone takes you to somewhere around $1600 in cost at the very least if you want Aero. And that is the exact same price Pimax asks for the Crystal, a HMD with superior visual quality and better FOV compared to Aero.
@@Szabby999 I don't need two lighthouses or any controllers, and if you buy a Pimax it comes with the famed Pimax support.. your $, your call.
Let’s see, after you purchase an audio solution, bay stations and controllers, the price of the Varjo becomes ~ $1,000 more expensive. And all of that for a smaller FOV, reduced clarity, less contrast, etc.
Like you Steve, I wear a motorcycle helmet and rode 2,800 miles in a week with it. I can’t see the Pimax size being an issue for simming.
For me, I am looking for the most immersive video and audio fidelity with the largest FOV. I can live with the other trade offs. I preordered my Crystal today now that Pimax has resolved the glass lenses, power hub, and packaging launch issues. Software should only improve from here.
Gotta say, the fans cooling in the Aero are absolutely a trump card for me against any headset. I absolutely HAVE to have it, and I have found I cannot live without it, actually. So, the Aero remains my fave as well. Also, everything from FSAcademy is incredible! I literally own every package they have, and have done all of their flights and training. They are incredibly well done.
Quest2 and especially the Pico4 also have them. 😊
I can not make it any clearer than this.
DO NOT BUY A SINGLE THING FROM PIMAX!!!!
They refused to fix my 8K for a year. They offered me £20 to remove my review off Amazon. As a gamer to a gamer, do not give them a penny.
Was it still under warranty? If so why did they refuse to fix it? Did you eventually get it fixed or replaced? Thanks!
Loved the tip using the menu button to get out of VR without having to take the VR headset off. Amazing how I've had the Varjo Aero for a year without realizing/thinking of that possibility. Comes in very handy to check any text messages when flying online on Vatsim 👍
It gets hot where my computer is located (no air conditioning), and I can say that the fan in the Aero is a life saver. I can only compare to the Reverb G2, but when it got hot the G2 fogged up within a few minutes. I was constantly removing the headset and cleaning the lenses, not to mention that it was just plain uncomfortable in the summer. The Aero stays cool and the lenses are clear even when the rest of me is hot. That's a game changer for me.
If your lenses fog you shouldnt removed the headset. You should leave it on and let the temperature equalize. Once it does the fogging will stop.
@@cheeeeezewizzz Ah! Probably very good advice for most users, but for me the fogging didn't start until I had the headset on for a while, and started sweating profusely inside the headset. Not only would the lenses fog up, but the sweat would drip into my eyes. It could be that I am a much sweatier guy than most users (an accusation I won't deny), or it could be that I was using the headset in conditions that it wasn't intended to be used. In any case, the Aero stays cool and fog free in the same conditions (it's 85F in my house now, and I am sweating quite a bit). I tried using a strong fan blowing on my face. That cooled me down but didn't stop the sweating inside the headset. There must be a reason Varjo took the trouble of adding a fan to their headsets -- maybe just to help out us sweatier folks. (Then again, it could just be that my takeoffs and landings would make any sensible person sweat.)
Build quality and the companies reputation is why i chose the aero. I want a hmd that will last and have comfort in knowing that varjo is in the vr space to stay because of their enterprise endeavors
How do you know a Aero will last?
@@REDxFROG statistics. Steve said that for himself had over 1000hrs with zero issues. A tonne of owners on the aero discord report same but if something does go wrong after warranty, varjo is a solid company and will work something out for us.
I'm about to upgrade my HP G2 and am looking at they beyond/crystal/aero. beyond is out, although the slim form factor is nice, resolution is not up to par IMO. I was originally leaning crystal but I've heard so many mixed reviews with people having horror stories about the headsets not working half the time or some people at all, even later consumer models. I think between those worries and the higher fps on aero models reported by many, the aero is starting to edge the crystal out for me. I feel like I'm taking less of a risk with the aero from being disappointed. At the end of the day dynamic fov is important, fps is important and resolution is important. I think the 5 fps on the aero might make up for the slightly nicer blacks/colours in the crystal for me as fps is everything in VR which I've been struggling with since my day 1 purchase of G2 on 2080, then 3090 now 4090. 4090 is my first experience with decent frames in VR but still a bit of a struggle sometimes in MSFS for instance or marianas in DCS. Hoping DFOV will change this for me.
Another great video, always like to hear your take on this stuff. Makes me wonder what Varjo is doing behind the scenes. Surely they have something in the works as the Crystal and possibly the Somnium VR1 start to overtake their position? I can only imagine how good an Aero 2 could be.
Valve has never once released a piece of hardware and actually released an update for it. They wont even release Half Life 3. You would think people would know by now. People in Valve arent given projects. They can start their own whenever they want and they can shift to any project they want whenever they want. The individual workers decide what gets made and what doesnt. So only the project found most interesting by the staff themselves actually gets made.
@@cheeeeezewizzz I said Varjo NOT Valve.
Thanks for sharing your opinions again, Steve! Very helpful! Love from Norway ♥♥♥♥♥
Thanks mate 😊
Imma wait it out for a while, so many headsets coming out soon. Have you been able to play around with that bigscreen beyond yet?
Not yet..
I spoke to Joshua, the Pimax spokesperson, he informs me that motion smoothing is in the Crytal but not yet activated.
How long ago? 2x and 3x motion reprojection has been available to all Aero users since March.
Most things are not activated on the Crystal. Joshua is happy to tell everyone that they should have read the small print and that nothing was planned to work at launch. Pimax are a joke. Serioulsly, the launch of the Crystal was a complete mess.
@brettgrieves Not most things. All of the basic functionality is working. You can connect the headset, pick up the controllers, and play a game. Software updates will improve performance over time as is normal for vr tech.
The eye tracking and auto IPD are being tested right now. We have gone through 3 updates in the last week tweaking performance internally. Im showing them at the Flight Sim Expo in Houston this weekend. Dynamic foveated rendering should come soom after.
As for the motion smoothing its my understanding it needs an update as well.
Wireless and Standalone are the 2 features that were 100% advertised at all times as not being available at launch, as well as the accessory faceplates. Our product launch was watched by over 500,000 people across all languages and platforms. We never hid that those features would be activated via OTA. I think most customers do research a 1600 dollar purchase before making it.
A few difficulties at the start of shipping were unfortunate, but most issues should be resolved already and we are fixing all affected customer orders. We are even switching the 42ppd lenses for a set of wide fov lenses after listening to our customer feedback which indicated the 42ppd lenses (meant for virtual desktop and design applications) weren't really our end consumer's cup of tea.
@@WhatsupAbroad sounds very promising, really looking forward to finding out more about the new wider fov lenses, great idea to ditch the 42 version for wider fov :)
so, when does the '10 Reasons the Crystal is a Better Headset Than the Aero' drop?
Well if there's enough interest, soon 👍
@@VRFlightSimGuy Will you have 10 reasons you will like it better than the Aero? 1) it has better visuals. 2) see reason number 1. 3) see reason number 1...
@@farmertrueVRyeah I get that, I'm an image quality whore too 😅
@@VRFlightSimGuy I think it's important that people understand it's OK to have different priorities and that their can be multiple headsets that work well for different people's needs. Things don't need to break down into a battle of the brands with only one headset left standing. It's better to have many options to pick from and competition to help motivate improvements.
In the end this is all for the enjoyment of whatever we do in VR, not about what we own to support that enjoyment.
got the crystal for a week or so and its pretty mindblowing apart from the bad tracking but that will be gone with the LH plate,the panels with the qled and local dimming also no distortion at all is really neat the fov is small coming from the 8kx ofc but i dont see how overall the aero would be better in image quality,just the fact they aint still enabled the local dimming is weird because it works great in all games ive tried the crystal with,skyrim at night is insane.
I played F1 23 in the Varjo Aero for about 5 hours straight, maybe if I had to charge the headset it would have been a good thing because I would have taken a break from the game lol.
Hi Steve! After watching your video, I have just ordered a Varjo Aero (they’re offering 2 base stations for free). Upgrading from a Reverb G2. I had preordered the Pimax but was tired of waiting. Looking forward to my Aero VR sessions 😊.
Congratulations! It's such an amazing headset 😊
How do you like the aero? I'm a G2 owner also and be sitting on the fence for ages........ - DCS mainly ?
@@mindfulmunchkin1215 I love it. Very comfortable, very crisp views, excellent performance due to great software. No reasons to complain here. The base stations help to make the view MUCH amor stable than with G2 inside out tracking. To my eyes, the clarity is similar to the center zone of the G2 with 150% oversampling. Before buying, I recommend you to compare pros and cons with the Pimax Crystal. I did the comparison and opted for the Aero, and I am happy with my decision. But there is (still) no such thing as a perfect headset - all have pros and cons.
@@dariosensi6078 cheers Dario😉, aero has it for me, glad you're happy with it.
Nice and im sure both headsets are good for some people, I'm just a casual vr user and was looking for something at a reasonable price and noticed Brand new Quest Pro's can be had for £650.00. Did a little research on the DCS forum and noticed quite a lot using the Quest pro with great success and really enjoying it especially the new pancake lens and full clarity across the screen. Convinced me at that price and will probably be more than good enough for just doing this sort of thing, just wanted something better than my old quest 2. Surprised this channel hasn't reviewed one yet.
I love the Quest Pro, spent £1500 on mine, crazy you can get them for £650 now. It's such a good all rounder.
@@kevinbrook7033 i guess lots of surplus stock that never sold, i have only had mine a few days and now found you can get them even cheaper £504 stockx, got mine off the bay from someone who had sold quite a few. I wanted one from the start but not at £1500, love my Quest pro, quality piece of kit and got me interested in vr again, not used my quest 2 for over a year, it was horrible for many reasons.
Hey man. I’m only looking to use the Varjo Aero for DCS and MSFS. Must I buy the base stations for the headset to function properly for these? Can’t find info on this anywhere.
Yes. You'll need one, ideally two 👍
28c is normal winter weather for northern Australia.
"Currently" being the important word. It actually ended up being 34c / 94f. Hot, but still cooler this summer compared to 2022 when some private weather stations in central / southern England recorded temperatures of 43c / 110+ f.
Hi Steve, it's me again. Good work thanks.
Thnans buddy
Ok, watched this vid...Now I'm very confused. I was about to pre-order the Pimax Crystal. I have the G2 right now, and pretty satisfied with it, but with all the hoopla on the Pimax Crystal (from your previous vids), it was a better choice. I'm a flight and racing simmer who wants the best from a headset. So, what is the verdict on ordering the Pimax Crystal...sorry, this is a sore subject!
go with the crystal
After having the Crystal for a week I'm returning it and staying with my trusty Reverb G2. The Crystal weighs twice that of the G2 and the added weigh rests on the bridge of my nose. Batteries are nearly impossible to get out of the charger and back of headset. Crystal crashes my main sim (IL2 Sturmovik) shorty after loading even with settings on minimum and I have a 13900k, 32Gb DDR5 RAM and RTX 4090.
Crystal's FOV is 2 degrees wider than the G2 - no noticeable difference. The image is slightly better than G2 but since it constantly crashes I can't give it a fair comparison.
To sum it up the Crystal is not worth $1,600 when you can get the same experience with less hassle for a third the price.
Hi Flight Sim Guy and I’m confused also. Based on your previous videos that I watched, I got the impression that for the money, you preferred the Crystal over the Varjo due to the higher clarity.
This is a great video on the Aero, but I would suggest you also go watch a video by Matteo311 entitled Why does Pimax do this. Two VR reviewers, that I also respect, talk about the good points but also really lay into the issues with the Crystal. I have the Aero and plan to get a Crystal in about a year when/if all the features are working and the faceplate is available. Local Dimming is the only feature I want over the Aero at the moment so I can wait for now.
@@agordon20024 I had the same issue with it resting on my nose until I figured out that using the extra comfort facepad and letting it rest on my forehead made all the difference. It's now very comfortable. The image of the crystal is much better than the G2 (I had one and returned it) so I'm not sure if we're seeing the same thing. Also, regarding IL, was it fully crashing or did you have weird stutters? I ask because I had my crystal in MSFS and there was this weird stutter even on the home screen with my 4090. I removed MSI Afterburner and it helped with other games but not MSFS. It's weird because I show 60-70fps but still super juddery. I think they may be having issues with the 4090 graphics card? Or maybe it's just my system. I'm going to reinstall windows to see if that helps. So yes, there are still issues but I'm keeping mine just due to the amazing image quality.
Hi Steve:
I recently upgraded to a 13900k and 4090, similar to your StormForce rig; although I’m still using a Reverb G2. No Aero for me yet,
I wonder if you could do an updated / detailed vid regarding setup and settings?
I know I would be grateful as would many of your fans.
Keep up the good work! Thank you for the great content!
Your like my rig , my 13900ks with 4090 with hp g2 how is fps you got ?
@@Q80100 - After following the recent settings guide posted by Steve, I’m averaging 58 FPS in most scenarios with dips into the 40s at densely populated areas, in VR.
@@chrisfev01 i was with power supply 850w i changed to 1200w i got more fps , I recommend 1200w and more with 4090 gpu
Personally, I'm anxiously waiting for your review of the Beyond. That is currently my frontrunner to replace my G2.
I'm anxiously awaiting for it too 😅 I genuinely have no idea what I'll make of it. Thankfully you won't need to wait for much longer..
can't wait for next varjo product
I will not be able to afford either for a long time, but it’s still good info for making GPU decisions (no AMD for Varjo). Thanks!
Now having both I think I’d agree with MOST of what you say but honestly I think 90% of people that are looking at both will be better served with the Crystal…at this time mind you! The superior FOV of the Crystal can’t be overstated…it’s not a HUGE difference but enough that I’d go Crystal all day long!!! Now I’m no fanboy of any brand so I HOPE we get a Varjo Aero 2 and I’ll be all over that as well!!! But for now I’m sorry the Crystal is the “clear” winner! The build quality isn’t as far away as it used to be. Apple will kill them all so don’t even think about Apple in build quality that’s a non starter. 🎉 lol
What makes the Crystal better for you, just the FOV?
@@manic_miner Yes largely the FOV. It’s the one big drawback for me when I first put the Aero on. The Crystal might also be a hair clearer that’s even possible 🤔😊 I can’t wait to see what an Aero 2 might be…hope they are working on one!!!
I think many people always get money and do his good job, keep going with Varjo, no body can afford that😂
The visuals on the crystal are amazing and unbeatable, and I do own the AERO. I have had some issues though. I had issues with no sound, and the solution was to change display ports. My controllers also disconnect from time to time and the solution for that is to pause the headset with A quick press of the power button and then again to turn the screens back on and the controllers automatically reconnect. As far as the controllers are concerned, the tracking isn't good enough at the moment for shooters, nor table tennis or at all. Its barley adequate. You can play games but you will have some significant tracking issues. Premium bowling is one of my favorite relaxing games to play and I couldn't even get the ball to go without having to hold it directly in front of me and throw it unnaturally. Also after all day of trying and reconfiguring different things , for now I was able get rid of or eliminate the world movement that I was experiencing, for the most part. I have two rigs, one was having this issue and the other wasn't. I swamped gpu's and rolled back drives and everything to fix it. Something worked but I'm not sure what actually did it for me. Lastly, we must reach out to pimax and implore that they get us the light house module as soon as possible. Most of the games I platy will not be enjoyable with the state of the tracking at this moment. When trying to aim, your aim will be all over the place and is way to inconsistent. With all that being said, I'm loving is, and will all things are ironed out, its gonna be epic.
Wow, Someone needs to write a program for virtual desktop for Crystal.. what a great feature that I was not aware of.
They haven't released standalone yet.. so it will matter of time.. we just have to wait.
Just a technical point, but Basestation tracking is not "outside-in tracking". Your use of the term is a misnomer. Basestations are markers, not sensors. Basestation tracking is actually also a form of inside-out tracking, but requires these markers rather than using any arbitrary visual references in your playspace.
The original Oculus Rift CV1 is the only popular VR headset that ever used outside-in tracking. Compared to actual outside-in tracking, Basestation tracking has the significant advantage of not being cabled to the PC.
Can’t you use a 5m usb c cable and plug your crystal in?
Ive been happily using my 5k+ for few years now with great fov so if fov is better in crystal than varjo then its crystal for me!
I got a notice from pimax they offering me now new lenses with a larger FOV than the 35PPD lenses.
Thanks for sharing.
OK so big question. I have a. 3080, and a Reverb G2 so what should I buy? Pimax Crystal, 4090 or dofreality?
4090
It's a shame varjo dont seem interested in doing a larger fov headset.
If Varjo made a wide FOV headset, I would chuck my Pimax 8KX and buy it in a heartbeat.
Ye my 8kx would also be sacrificed. Pimax do make decent headsets but the way they release products is so bizarre. I'm convinced a varjo large fov competitor would completely dominate the market.
You mean like their xr3 and VR3? They have wide fov headsets, they just cost like 7000 minimum. And a monthly fee to turn it on.
Just hold out for the Pimax 12K QLED to be released towards the end of this year or maybe early next year. If it's worth having... it's worth waiting for. That's what **I** always say! ;-)
@@MikeInExile fov?
As a software engineer I spent all my working life dealing with bugs, and so my tolerance for this in my personal time is zero. For this reason I'm just not interested in being a Pimax beta tester. I'll stick with my Pico 4 until Pimax produce a next gen product hopefully with better VFOV and contrast, surely it can't be that long as the Aero is two years old now?
Do you want me to send you some of my crystal cooling fan mods steve?
Hey mate. That's very kind of you sir 😊
Id be interested in seeing what you are working on.
Ive recently directed the engineering team to increase the fan curve in the software as well.
Would you be so kind to explain your mod in a video on your channel? I was thinking of such a mod myself but my Crystal wasn't shipped yet... Never mind, if you have plans to sell them.
@@driflysh4597 no plans to sell at all - the models and instructions will be freely available. I’m pretty happy with the model, just need to finish off with some filter foam to prevent light leakage and find exactly the right fan for the job.
Varjo must be putting some "lean" on you
Don't be ridiculous. I make whatever videos I want. Case in point, my DPVR review video.
Lack of a fan in the crystal is a real disappointment for me
For me I never liked The fan it Irritates and dries out my eyes.
Hey Steve ,
I have a Pico4 and get about 45fps with an i5 12400f with a 3080ti. If I did a straight swap of the CPU and put in a i9 13900 with current msfs settings would that be enough of an upgrade to get upto or around 90 fps ?
No. Because you would need another GPU not CPU!
Hi. I never simmed before. What do you do in sims? Like. Is it objective based or do you just fly around for fun?
Depends on the SIM you choose, msfs is fly around mostly, DCS is military based
You relive historic or modern aerial combat. Blow stuff up on the ground and shoot other aircraft out of the sky. Or just fly around for fun.🙂
That's why i like my Varjo.
Which audio solution would you propose with this headset ?
My Corsair headphones work well
Steve, if you had to choose one headset to stick with for the rest of your life? Pimax or Aero?
Probably Aero 👍
What do you mean by better tracking from the Aero? My biggest issue with the Aero is that the tracking is too sensitive, picks up too much vibrations and makes it inconvenient for motion platforms and sim racing. Maybe I would like the tracking to be "worse"?
It's absolutely crucial to have every tiny bit of movement of your head represented in the headset. Otherwise it will induce motion sickness much faster.
@@REDxFROG Not really, in fact the Quest 2 tracking is a lot smoother, feels more analog and natural and never had any issues with motion sickness. The first time I felt I could get motion sickness was the first few days with the Aero, and that is because it picks up some movement/vibrations that you wouldn't see in real life, and a clear example is when you are in virtual desktop with your head still and you can see the shaking caused by your heartbeat, does you heartbeat move your eyes in real life as well?
I find the Aero to be better than inside out tracking headsets for my Motion rig, so that's interesting.
@@VRFlightSimGuy mmmh lighthouse is inside out tracking. LoL
We never had the right (short) wording for camera based inside out tracking vs. marker based inside out tracking.
It just triggers me when someone says "lighthouse vs inside out". 😂
@@arminglf lighthouse picks up movement which isn't visible in real life is totally new to me.
It can pick up the heart beat but the Quest2 cannot?
If the brain compensates a visible movement of the head, it doesn't matter if the eye collects this information by screen or naked eye. So your example is pretty busted.
If you're using a jackhammer using the Quest2, it will smooth out everything, right? And the Index would render all the jittery movements. That's not okay? Because the headset on the head would do counter movements anyway. LoL it wouldn't stick to the head. 😂
Nah, lighthouse is super precise and the best way to track VR equipment.
But there are a few things to take care of when setting it up, so it's not messing up the tracking.
Your videos are so confusing. In one video you clearly say the Crystal is now the best simming headset and you always fly using it. In another video you are now listing all the reasons why the Aero is better and say if it wasn't for the content creation you would be using Aero? Very mixed and inconsistent messaging,
We all have our different reasons for why we prefer one headset over another. I clearly state the Crystal is my favourite (for my needs), but also highlight areas the Aero is better, since there may be deal breakers for you. It's critical thinking and ensuring I cover all use cases.
Haha...Stevy got pressure from his sponsor Vario. Only few dass between Crystal "the best" and "Aero" is better....😂😂😂😂
If you believe that, then kindly check out my recent DPVR review. I post what I like and say what I like.. but thankyou for the trolling, it really support the RUclips algorithms. 😁
Do you happen to use voice attack?
Negative
Seriously? An HMD that cost twice as much as the Crystal has better quality and more features?
Better quality yes! more features hell no for more money lol
@@Killswitch1411 The Crystal is $400 cheaper than the Aero, but most of the things you want working on the Crystal dont, auto IPD, eye tracking, DFR, base station tracking, 120hz mode, standalone mode, and the build quality is significantly better on the Aero. Would I rather pay for a fully working device thats better build quality and has a track record of excellent hardware for an extra $400 YES, so Id opt for the Aero everytime.
@@brettgrieves That's ignoring that you need to already have lighthouse base stations and controllers, and also some sort of audio solution - either you already paid for them, or you have to buy them so it's a cost you need to consider in the comparison. The Varjo is a very expensive proposition when you look at the entire package, the crystal comes with everything in the box, and a very good audio solution - though to be fair it sounds like the DMAS is only a temporary perk as standard for pre-orders.
@@brettgrieves Cool so you made a decision that fits your needs. Auto IPD isn't a must have feature I set my IPD and forget about it as I already know my IPD, 120hz does work on my setup, don't care about standalone right now. I have a Aero, so I know everything it does better and does worse. Crystal visual quality is better than the Aero and its not just a little bit better even the FOV is better, colors are better they actual did some work and have local dimming. Aero should be miles better for the cost and and you don't even get audio, Controllers, Base stations. Now you're just bleeding money and the Aero is even worse of a idea right now at the current time. I'm happy you need to defend Varjo to this extent, but Aero for new buyers is just a stupid idea.
@@Killswitch1411The reason is... Build quality and professional software. That alone counts for the extra cash.
Is it possible to change the battery on the fly?
Without the need to stop simulation.
Yes, the Crystal has a small internal batter to allow for swapping. But, I believe it won’t last long so you better be quick.
No way in hell can a normal person swap the batteries in less than a minute. The tabs on the battery are rigid. They don't flex at all to aid in releasing their grip and need to be pried out of both charger and back of headset.
@@agordon20024 I seen a RUclips reviewer complain about that. I’m not a fan of the battery thing either on a PCVR headset. I’ve had two bad experiences with Pimax and for as much as I want to give the Crystal a chance I have cancelled my order. The Varjo is more my style with excellent build and as mentioned many times, excellent software.
@@briank3754 I would buy a Varjo in a heartbeat if it had audio. Can't imagine what they were thinking by not including headphones and mic in the $3000 package.
@@agordon20024 i got the Varjo for $1700 and if you buy the Base stations directly from Steam they are $150 each. But even so, $2k with no audio. I actually like having headphones and still get the directional audio as long as you plug into the audio jack on the headset. I never use a mic so that isn’t a concern for me at least. The Varjo feels like a $2000 product though and I can see it holding up well over time. Not sure what that’s worth to others, but I do appreciate the quality. You also get a lot of advanced features and the fans.
With all the discussion about the Varjo Aero Vs the Crystal... there's no mention of the upcoming Pimax 12K QLED? The fact that the 12K is right around the corner should _definitely_ be a factor in any buying decisions made 'today' IMHO! :-)
will the fov be better though?
@@vracan The FOV of the 12K QLED is supposed to be equal to the 8KX. So yes, you'll get the clarity of the Crystal with the FOV of the 8KX!
Unicorn headset at the minute.
There is no way I can recommend a headset I've not tried yet. Give it time...
Pimax 12K is nowhere near the corner my friend...
Dang it Steve, I am now going to put a dent in my wallet and get the Aero... no regrets. Thanks for your insight! Bye bye , G2 sitting in Grapevine, TX repair facility.
Congrats buddy. Feel free to use my affiliate link if you want 😊
My crystal has arrived today and I mainly bought it for MS2020.
From my point of view it isn't worth the money. Especially In comparison to my Pico4 wich is far cheaper and also much better accessible in terms of setting- up, controller tracking etc,.
I have two big issues with the Crystal, first: when I look in the distance in ms2020 it's just blurry and not so crystal as expected. The second point is finding and keeping the sweet spot is a real hassle, due to its bulkiness. Don't get me wrong, everything what is the near is crisp and for most other games it is not noticeable and the comfort, build quality isn't bad at all, but this blurriness in the far distance in MS2020 is for me is unbearably (yes , my unit has glas lenses.
Btw. The controller tracking and technology is rubbish, always need to turn on/off the headset to reactivate the controllers. The initial Installation was bumpy as well. Connection worked out of the box, but at the beginning the displays flickered on the edges and the picture was completely off. After a restart of my System it worked just fine, somehow.
Probably I will refund it, If i cannot find a solution. BTW, I preordered the Crystal in April, but did not get any email notice for final payment, so I bought it here in China from JingDong京东, and it arrived within 3 days, DMAS headphones was inklusive 🙂. Unfortunately i have to wait for another generation of HMD. Its an absolute niche product and only for simulations appropriated (if you don't making any quick movements, otherwise the HMD will move and you have to find the sweet spot again). Sorry Pimax, but the last 8 hours was not funny at all and for this 11999 RMB or 1599 Euros? As I mentioned before, at least for me it is not worth the money.
My System is 5800x3D & MSI 4090GTX , Windows 11
Whhhhhat? Well, thankyou for sharing your experiences, I respect your opinion but I'm also bemused. While the Pico 4 is a great headset (I use my all the time), the Crystal is in a totally different league visually. Especially when it comes to further out, there's no blurring at all with 2 headsets I've tested now.
VR is such a strange thing I tell you, right now, my RUclips comments are inundated with people elated at the visual quality now they are finally receiving the headset.
I'm just sorry it hasn't worked out for you. Really I am.
I think you meant "10 things that the Aero does better than the Crystal" or similar. The title makes it seem like you think the Aero is better
You can thank the RUclips algorithm for that 😅
So if i bought an aero (i have basestations and knuckles already) i would be fine basically?
Simple answer, yes.
@@markkovalcson7243 I like simple answers! Thank you!
@@yellowflash111 It took me seconds to bind my Index controllers when I setup the Aero and I didn't even need to set the room boundaries. It kept the same extents I setup on my Index over 3.5 years ago.
@@markkovalcson7243 Sounds great! I'm sold.
Reverb G2 !
The G2 is still the best value in VR! But I’m loving the Aero. I have kept my G2 and it will be my new travel headset. I’m all to happy to get rid of the Quest 2. I just built a small form factor PC to replace my laptop and support my VR habit when I am traveling.
@briank3754 very cool! I'd love to have an aero but I just blew all my money on a 4090 and virpil controls when I discovered msfs2020 about 2 months ago. I traded a set of golf clubs for a like new g2 v2. So I may buy either an aero or crystal when I save up some. Or maybe if the new valve or something else hits market by then I will consider those. I'd love to have an enthusiast level headset.
@@briank3754 and that's super cool about your new small form factor pc. Grats!
Steve, do the lenses fog-up in the Crystal? I hated that in the G2, couldn’t stand it at all. Now that I saw this video, after having watched all of your Crystal videos, I am not sure about the Crystal anymore, I was all in before this!
Yes they can unfortunately. But it's not a regular occurrence. Unless you have active cooling, it can happen.
@@VRFlightSimGuy it happened a lot with G2. I don’t know…1500 USD for a headset that fogs?! That’s a much tougher decision/sale now. Thanks for the reply.
Pretty stupid that they don’t support AMD cards.
Evening
👋