The distortion comes from aspheric lenses and if you're seeing it then the HMD is not worn correctly, as you say. It's the same with the GearVR lens mod in the Vive. The newer Pimax software now tells you if you are wearing it correctly when you put it on and if you need to move it up or down, it's a nice feature.
Interesting as that would require eye tracking, I literally downloaded the latest software this afternoon and that feature is not there?! But it's still a pain for active games, the headset is heavy and so moves around easily with momentum
@@KarlGosling Ah yes true, I do have eye tracking enabled. You'd need the beta from Pimax for that. Agree a headset of this size and weight isn't really suited to active games. It's 95% for sims for me with Quest over VD for anything else.
Appreciate your honest reviews. I am a crystal owner. Your review is spot on. I haven't experienced the connection issues, setup was easy for me. But the main point is unless you prioritize display quality above all else, this isn't the best choice. I would've upgraded to an aero and not waited for this to come out in retrospect.
Appreciate you coming back after the firmware updates to test again. Good to see balanced pros and cons arguments across different reviewers. This headset seems to be one of the more subjective experiences out there for sure. Good job!
Great update. Glad to hear that the USB issue seems to be better. With the 8kx I know that I had to restart my WLAN service because I had a USB wifi connector and after starting the pimax, if I wanted to play anything on multiplayer I had to re-start the WLAN service in windows so the connection wouldn't lag.
Hi Karl, I love your honest review of the Pimax Crystal. Other reviewers appear to have had no issues with their headsets. Probably they have been given the headset, and it has been tweaked, so they have no problems and are obligated to the company to provide a good first impression. This headset is expensive; it should be plug-and-play and have the wide FOV that Pimax is known for. There is nowhere in the UK where you can try a VR headset before you buy; maybe no one would buy them then.
I notice the smaller channels all say it's amazing but the larger channels, Boosted Media, Tyriel Wood, DiscoVR all have the same problems (and more) as I do... make of that what you will mate.
Good to hear it's running better for you. You are still having infinitely more problems than my experience so far though, luckily for me I guess lol. As for having to do room setup each time, unfortunately yes it does not save setup between sessions, hopefully that will be implemented, it's a must really.
I have been skipping the room setup altogether. It worked fine the first two times, as long as you start the headset from the same position. I had some problems with the floor the 3rd time, even after the latest update. Fixed it by using OVR Advanced settings and recenter space. It's a pain having to do it at all, but at least you don't have to do it every They should have released it with at least the eye tracking software working to soften the blow imo, seeing in real time if you are wearing correctly and having the ipd adjust automatically is a big deal, not to talk about the performance benefit brought by foveated rendering. You do indeed need to do a lot of research and tinker with it before you can play, not great for those who just want a ready out of the box experience.
No worries at all mate, anything is worth a shot and it could well have been! Just because the headset has a battery that doesn't stop Pimax pulling loads of USB power too, they have some funny ideas as it is! lol
I’ve watched loads of your videos and I really like your honest reviews on products. I understand you need to make some money but your honesty is what I like. Look forward to pimax review on Msfs. Keep up the great work 👍
Thank you mate, money can sway a lot of reviewers I'm sure, I'm also sure I'm missing out on a lot of revenue but products are what they are, no point sugar coating things IMO.
Glad you mentioned the weird location issue, where you are suddenly floating in space. I had this since I received mine. Thought it was just me. It's only been fixed (mostly) with the recent controller update. Connections are now a lot more reliable than my Reverb G2...
this is so strange! I agree with your other points, but the headset actually balances for me. Maybe the cable when wrapped to the back makes it feel better, but its defo a lot more comfortable than some other pimax headsets. only grudge is how heavy it is, cause the facial interface digs into my skin a lil much
In fairness it's closer to being balanced than previous headsets as it has a battery as a counter weight, but yeah still way too big, bulky and heavy for no reward.
@@KarlGosling yea! i lowkey wanted to get a varjo since im using lighthouse tracking anyways, i just moved from a quest so i thought that the standalone mode might be convenient on the pimax. its way too big of a tradeoff considering how heavy it is though
I agreed with all your points in the last video, but for the weight one, I don't think the argument is settled as the back of the headstrap was way higher than it would be when wearing. I don't think I've seen anyone else say it's not balanced. Honestly, it really is very well balanced. The weight and bulk is still far FAR too much, especially in 2023 and with normal FOV.
Honestly mate no matter how far forward I try to balance it (as you can see in the video) it always pulls itself forwards, even with the battery hanging as low as it can and my finger right at the front of the strap.
@@KarlGosling Honestly, with Pimax's quality control there might be some random lead weight in the front haha. I went through 3 myself before getting a well working one, pure lottery. Thanks for the videos btw.
The Crystal is too heavy, too large "for no reason", and NOT balanced. There is no way around this fact. It is good for stationary use and that's it.@@HeadsetHistorian
Crazy how different issues we experience. I did have a TON of connectivity issues when I was trying to use the included usb hub but have zero issues without it. The weight doesn't bother me anymore since I got the apache strap. I do get a lot of chromatic abberation ( yes my IPD is set correctly) but my biggest issue is the brightness difference between the eyes and I can NOT make them the same. Also the left lens looks blurrier than the right. Like I can look at something down below and my right eye is sharp, my left eye is blurry ( the headset sits level on my face) Interesting you say you can't see much / enough difference in sim racing. To be honest ( might have said this in your last video) I was very disappointed with the crystal when I got it. Then I was playing with it for a whole month and went back to my old headset and then I realized the game with that headset was almost as awful looking as I was playing on a playstation 1! Also have to mention with my old headset I was playing with 1.5 render resolution and with the crystal I only play at 0.75 render scale. While I really enjoy crystal in Asetto I still couldn't recommend this headset for anyone especially when it costs so much and comes with so many issues.
Bradley Lynch also talked about the distortion sweetspot that was mentioned near the end of this video. But half the youtube reviewers don't even mention it, which i think is absurd as it's the first thing i noticed when trying on this headset. I think Tyriel is one of the honest reviewers as well.
If you get a free Crystal, they will review it positive as possible. MRTV got a free htc XR headset(worst standalone headset in the world for that price) and he recommded to his subscribers.
This review seems way more fair than your last of the pros and cons. Thanks! Quick question on your VR vs. your triples, do you feel that the right side screen for the triples really gives a perception of the rest of the car rather than feeling like a flat picture of the side of the car? The only way I can explain what I mean is that in VR there's depth perception when you look to the right which makes the right side of the car appear correct, but I'm concerned with trying triples that it will simply feel like a 2d screen that is flat and doesn't give the perception of the car going "off into the distance" so to speak.
I just share my exact experience as it is mate, good or bad :) It still feels flat, not like VR, but it's way better than a single screen and much more comfortable and cooler for long play sessions.
I’m a simple vr consumer, I like to set and forget and be able to trust my headset with the simple task of that each time I put it on, it just works and I don’t need to faff about. Pimax has always seemed like a lottery product and I can’t be bothered with any faff that goes into what should be a simple plug and play session. My vr time is limited and I want to jump right in and play and have zero faff time. I’ll always take reliability over better visuals!
Thanks for a honest review!! I wanted to upgrade from a Pimax8kx but the Crystal is just simply too expensive for what you get! Especially taking taxes and import duty into account! I also have a Rtx 380 I am a casual vr gamer and cant afford to upgrade to a 480 and buy the Crystal.
Nah. Not for me. I'm sticking with my Qpro until I have money for Varjo Aero. I know it's more expensive, but I would end smashing the crystal up the wall. Thanks mate. Appreciate your update.
Honest review and really sorry you had such a ball-ache getting things to work. I've had a Crystal (my first Pimax headset) for about a month now and also had the usual "Pimax experience" of various hassles, though not as bad as yours. For me the battery life was really bad until the latest firmware fixed it and I also need reading glasses to be able to get a clear image, unlike my Pico 4 or G2. I've had cataract surgery and so can't focus on the Crystal screens without corrective inserts or glasses, despite having 20/20 distance vision. But being a long time flight sim enthusiast I've persevered. As far as weight and comfort, it was awful to start with, but once I bought an Apache head-strap that all changed and it's no longer an issue in Microsoft Flight Sim, which is what I bought it for. In fact it's now the most comfortable headset I own for my needs. You DO need a 4090 to get the most out of it though, so with my 5800x3D CPU and a 4090 it is actually by far the best headset available now for flight sims in terms of visuals, onboard sound and the microphone. I was flying today with the res maxed out using PimaxVR and the Toolkit from Matt and the cockpit and scenery were just stunning; incredibly sharp with great colours and true blacks...no way I could go back to the likes of a G2, despite my own sore balls getting things set up right. The FOV is acceptable for now and hopefully will be that bit better with the new wider FOV lenses incoming later this year (I DO like the interchangeable lenses, that's a huge plus to me). For standalone use though, I think even the Pico 4 is way, way better, glare and all, and at a much lower price. I think Pimax made a huge error (pun intended) making this a one size fits all headset for PCVR plus standalone. Better to just concentrate on PCVR use for simmers. Oh, must add that I had zero connection issues with a fairly cheap motherboard and I even use a crummy Logitech wireless mouse. Like you say, it's a lottery. Anyway, alla best and cheers from Tasmania. 🙂
This is a great review and really sums up VR currently for PC with a cable. I have been waiting for a really nice solution for the PC for years and was hoping this would be the magic bullet but bulk always seems to spoil the party.
I've tried four headsets now. The quest 2, PSVR2, reverb G2 V2, and now the Pimax Crystal. Hands-down, the PSVR2 is the best headset experience so far. It has the largest field of view, it's lightweight, comfortable, and it works right out of the box perfectly every time with no additional software no settings to fiddle with nothing. From minute one, you just turn it on and use it. The tracking is impeccable, The controller tracking is also impeccable, and it just works perfectly as intended every time. Next I would say the reverb G2. As far as the PC goes, that headset gave me a much better experience than a Pimax Crystal. It has a relatively small field of view, and is like seeing the world with a scuba mask on, and it's not as clear as the crystal, or as smooth on frame rates, but it's far more comfortable, and works every time flawlessly. On top of all of its connectivity issues software communication issues, and lack of good support, the headset itself just feels like it's made for someone with a very large head. Even the face mask is wider than my skull. At the sides of the facemask interface, I can literally stick my fingers in between the face plate and my skin. And I do get a fair amount of light bleed through there. I don't have a particularly small head, but it definitely makes my head feel small.
I picked up this headset yesterday secondhand for a really good price as i wanted eye tracking. I had low expectations after owning a HTC Vive Elite XR, Quest 3 and PSVR2. Took me 45mins to dial everything in and once up and running, my jaw dropped and finally realised where PCVR is going especially for sim racing. The clarity is almost 4K like compared to my 4K monitors. but we just need to be realistic, at 5760x2880 and a massive FOV, it kills the 4090. I don’t think i have ever made any game stutter with 4090, even on my sim rig which has a 57 inch 7680x2160 Ultra-Wide Monitor (DUHD - Two 4K panels joined into one), the 4090 hums along nicely. now the headset is closing in on the original promise, GPUs are now lagging behind.
I really appreciate the straight talking no bs review, or follow up I guess. I watched another reviewer gush over it and I knew as soon as he said it weighed about the same as an Index (its 50% heavier!) that I couldnt trust another word that came out of his mouth. On paper the crystal is exactly what I want from a new VR HMD, minus the weight which is an absolute deal breaker for me. But even ignoring the weight, many key features dont work at all yet. Guess I wont be owning a Pimax headset any time soon…
I agree mate, some very misleading reviews out there... Pimax do pay good commission though 🤷♂️ The size and weight is just not good in 2023 when everything is focused on going smaller and lighter, which is what we all want!
@@KarlGoslingYeah I just know I wouldnt use something that heavy. I have a feeling the vision pro will also be heavy. I went from day1 vive to day1 index and I am currently itching for a proper upgrade. I barely do any VR these days, I hate the tether and SDE, next headset needs to take them out of the equation and should be no heavier than an Index (preferably lighter).
Sounds like a Pimax to me, I've had an 8KX for 2 years, it took a month to get it running well, and a week when I changed gaming PC, but now it is pretty damn good.
It feels like they took old chassis slammed everything they could in there and made this abomination instead of making a new well designed headset that does not try to do everything. Never buy beta products only consider it after all the issues are fixed and features included but by the time if that even happens a newer better headset will probably be out without legendary pimax quality control issues. As far as USB issues it seems a common thing with many headsets as someone who tests them you should get pci-e usb card that has separate controller on each port and has sata plug inside pc to power it to eliminate points of failure and also i know its expensive but these high resolution headsets can only be properly tested on a 4090 which is more in line with what the headset costs (can only use the argument oh most people have lower end gpu when you compare it with like a quest 2 cost)
My first VR headset was a Pimax 4k as I couldn't source the original Rift at the time. I won't touch a Pimax product after that experience. Visuals were also good at the time but the problems and comfort, even back then was terrible. Really happy with my G2 and eagerly awaiting my Big screen VR headset. But getting a Pimax will never happen again.
Mine keeps disconnecting from Pimax Play Client about every half hour, causing Microsoft flight simulator to freeze. The screen goes black, and it won't reconnect to Pimax Play until I reboot my PC. When I run the diagnostic it says "Missing VC Components" and options you to "VC Repair" which appears to be a Visual C++ redistributable, but the installer they link you to is all in chinese, so you don't even see what it is, nor can you read the installers option buttons on the installer, unless you speak chinese... Not sure if that is what my issue is...
First and fore most I agree that the Crystal is a heavy overweight bugger, but I just tried the balance thing with my unit and it balances really well. The only real difference that I see between your test and mine is that I have strap tighter.
Yeah I think they are just cost saving by reusing existing chassis, straps and audio, they didn't even change the colour from blue to black to make the speakers match! lol
omg, picked up this headset yesterday secondhand for a really good price as i wanted eye tracking. I had low expectations after owning a HTC Vive Elite XR, Quest 3 and PSVR2. Took me 45mins to dial everything in and once up and running, my jaw dropped and finally realised where PCVR is going especially for sim racing. The clarity is almost 4K like compared to my 4K monitors. but we just need to be realistic, at 5760x2880 and a massive FOV, it kills the 4090. I don’t think i have ever made any game stutter with 4090, even on my sim rig which has a 57 inch 7680x2160 Ultra-Wide Monitor (DUHD - Two 4K panels joined into one), the 4090 hums along nicely. now the headset is closing in on the original promise, GPUs are now lagging behind and i will not trade the wireless over a cable straight into the GPU. can’t stand compressed / upscaled video signals, it just destroys the image quality. if you guys are on the fence, pick up a cheap Pimax Crystal secondhand and give it a try.
Really nice video mate. Just dont know about this, ive had to pimax headests now. They seem to release at least a year late and then take another year to actually be finished while you have it. It's a lot of money for something that will probably never run faultlessly.
sorry to hear you had so many issues. Mine arrived about 10 days ago and everything connected/updated and worked on 1st try. I do have a high-end Intel based system and graphics card . The controller tracking is crappy (just like my old G2) and for me trying to get that sweet spot of having it positioned correctly on my head is an issue. I also am not sure if I have the IPD dialed in properly as i get that wavey visual that makes it seem one eye is seeing the visuals at a different level than the other. However for me no doubt the clarity is amazing. As for the weight , it is heavier than the G2 for sure but not in an uncomfortable way. As others have said all these things are very subjective and are not univeral issues. I only flightsim and my views are based on that platform.
I'm glad yours at least connected and updated without issue, one of the things I notice in the recent software update was better AMD support so this may have helped me! Sounds like maybe the lenses are misaligned? IPD usually just adds a little blur if it's not set correctlly. The comfort and fit is of course subjective, but yes it's very heavy for a VR headset.
I have been keen on upgrading my quest 2 for some time now. Was looking at this or a quest 3. I could easily afford a Pimax but I don't want issues. 6900 xt with 32 gb ram and 11700 f cpu is my set up , a recent upgrade.
@@KarlGosling Thanks mate for the help! I'll wait until it's got a decent strap to go with it though.pity I can't swap my kiwi elite strap and controller handgrips over. Maybe the vr cover cushions I bought for the face? Kiwi Battery backpack?I bought a lot of mods😁
Hey Karl, please measure the FOV with the free Stream VR workshop tool called "ROV Test FOV & Resolution". BTW, do You have both lenses, the higher FOV (35 PPD) and the narrower (42 PPD) too? I'm curious about the differences.
@@KarlGosling OK, but wich one is the "other" the wider FOV (35 PPD)? I hope so... As they claimed 140 degrees FOV horizontal with the lower PPD and 125 degrees with the 42 PPD lens, right? Both sound OK, but for some reason I'm still skeptical. It'd be good to see some real world tests now.
The crystal is nowhere near 140 degrees with any of the lenses they have. I beleive the standard lenses that everyone gets right now are the 35PPD lenses. They are no longer doing the narrow lenses and instead they are working on a "wide fov" lens that should increase the standard fov by about 15 percent which still won't come anywhere near the 140 degree fov. @@lukejanfoux4523
I had the Pico 4 and the FOV seems better on the Pimax Crystal tbh. Also I don't agree there's nothing new, this is the only headset with mixed display port / standalone mode that also has eye tracking for example. Most other issues (controller tracking, cable) could possibly fixed with different announced modules in the future, steamvr faceplate have just been tested by MTVR and gives perfect tracking (need the extra hardware of course), wireless module is coming and should be a lot better than wifi streaming, but yeah as it is, there's a long way to go for Pimax to get everything working properly. I had a Pimax 8k and knew what i was getting into, but for other people, this probably won't be acceptable.
The DP is a fair point actually mate yes that is new, but the eye tracking doesn't yet work and extra modules to fix problems is not only the wrong way to fix things but it will add more weight (and cost) to an already unwieldy headset. Using external tracking not only negates the point of ISO tracking it adds a lot of extra cost for first time buyers (another £800) making it terrible value, plus for anything other than sim racing or flight it's just too big and heavy, FPS, sports games, etc.... I could literally wear two Pico 4's or Quest 2's and still have less bulk and weight on my head! lol
@@KarlGosling Actually i got a used vive with base stations and wands for 150 so it's not that much in my case. Also you're comparing products with several months / years of tracking improvement ( quest 2 had occlusion issues at the beginning, same as tracking issues with pico 4) with a just released headset, it has already improved and will probably keep improving. But yeah, things like weight can be a make or break issue for example.
Really like your channel, I am just getting into Sim racing and looking for a cockpit, I don't have much room but would like something permeant but small.
It is mate yes, comfort, weight, having a cable... but I think we can all agree that headsets are and should be striving to get smaller and lighter with good quality wireless connectivity, this is the future for sure! :)
I agree with lighter and smaller, but I have yet to see a wireless connectivity headset that matches the visuals and performance of a good one with a Display Port - maybe someday, but not today IMHO.
I have probably got the same barrel distortion Tyriel was talking about and it's not just something that you get when you move around, it's always there unfortunately, it's just that when you move around with your head you can notice straight lines distort in real time. Pimax decided to send me a new lens to try out after I opened a ticket because I too was starting to feel sick after about 1h play session. It's just like one lens has a different distortion profile than the other. Some of my friends couldn't use it for long because it's only present on the left eye for most people I have talked with on reddit and discord. That balancing problem is strange, it's definitely there but I don't feel it as much as I did with the vive pro 2 for example, which was sitting on my nose. Although, to be fair I had to tinker with it a bit before finding the right balance and had to use some extra stuff (Omniwhatever has a video on it) to help with the wobbling and narrow strap. (but then again I had to do the same with all the other headsets, index was the easiest because I could 3D print a new face mask) All in all I agree it does not look like a finished product, but I hope they can fix most of the problems. I had many with all the other headsets I have owned but this one seems like the most problematic. The weight will always be there but the clarity is what counts for me and this definitely has it all with the right lenses and enough resolution to only notice sde on completely white backgrounds and only if you are looking for it. Maybe a different company will do it better in the near future.
Sounds like typical Pimax QC mate. I'm sure someone will, it's only a matter of fitting these displays into a smaller unit like the Pico 4 for example.
@@KarlGosling Or something like the bigscreen beyond, the form factor of that headset is crazy. The only thing that made me chose the Crystal over it was the possibility of sharing it with other people and the lenses. No ipd adjustment and no aspheric lenses are a no go for me from now on. CA and distortions can at least be fixed via software if the team is good enough. It took Varjo about 1 year to fix all those issues. But the glare caused by all the other lenses is not fixable. Maybe even the quest 3 will be good enough, who knows...
@@KarlGosling I have got an update for you so you can inform people if they do get this issue. Pimax has sent me a new left lens so I could replace the old one which I had also scratched while trying to test it. They sent it for free thank god but I don't know if that will be the case for everyone obviously. Either way the new lens fixed the distortion, so as you were saying they have got QC issues they need to address. Biggest problem is that you should not get this kind of issues after having paid so much, and that it also took them 2 months to get to the conclusion that the lens would have to be replaced.
The weight wouldn't worry me as I have rode a bike with a heavy full face helmet for over 40 years but wouldn't touch it with a bar of soap . For that much money I want something to work out of the box. Still until they get a large sweetspot in iRacing they are not for me ( have tried 2 different types and outside the sweet spot they look horrible )
I'm also a helmet wearer and have been my entire life, but given the choice I'd rather not play computer games wearing something this heavy! lol Yeah you do have to get them in just the right spot, everything is getting better as time goes on... well, most things! lol
Great video Karl! I got my crystal 4 days ago and so far i like my g2 better. Im running a 4090 and a 7800x3d on only sim racing rig. I just dont see a difference while racing. It does look much better when your still though. Its also way less comfortable. Im happy you mentioning the warped barrel problem, i wasnt sure if that was just mine. It took me a few tries to update the firmware also.
what game you running? Have you tried AMS2? I ran AMS2 3100x3000 , 2x supersampling and ultra settings. Looks fantastic on my G2. I'm interested in how the Pimax compares running native without the supersampling and MSAA.
I'm not sure you have that setup right. I've done both and the difference is not even close. The fov of the g2 is tiny and the distortion outside of the very center and tiny sweet spot is awful. The crystal is a pain on your face, but looks in game like heaven no matter where you look.
At this point, any experiences w/ less than a 4080 card should be ignored for visuals/performance purposes. In fact, Pimax should just state it in their marketing: min specs: 4080, 12gen i7 with 32gb of RAM 😂. Otherwise, why bother with all the issues if you ain’t getting a “max” experience out of a headset that promotes high fidelity in a 1st place
I am very disappointed with this review update. I didn't get to see him slam the Pimax Crystal on the ground and see all the pieces shatter into obliteration lol. On a serious note, I can't wait to see him review the 12K which have the weight of two more bricks on top of the Crystal's.
Sorry to say that, but a 3080 is just not good enough to push this headset in sim-racing with the resolution it demands. With my 8KX you need quite a ridiculous supersampling to get the best clarity out of it plus some headroom in fpsVR both with GPU and CPU to keep tracking and stream stable. Those tyical VR-issues usually appears if there is not enough headroom and running VR at 90+% instead of 65 % or less. At least the 4080 is way better than the 3080 I've had before for VR and expected less of a performance-bump after watching several flat-games benchmarks. The 40-series is overpriced, but really a game-changer for VR and feels like two to three generations better than the 30-series while switching form 2080 to 3080 did almost nothing.
No need to be sorry mate, I know full well it's not enough :) And it's not just this headset, all modern HMD's with a reasonable res are the same, even the Q2 if you want the best out of it needs more than my 3080. But for most PCVR it's fine, just sim racing and flight sim... I guess because all other PCVR titles are made specifically for VR and sim titles are not.
I think there is something wrong with your headset. Pimax needs to exchange it. After watching this video I just grabbed my headset and tried the balance test and it is fine. I did the update on the first try. Never have any connection issues. And image quality is far better than reverb g2 in sim racing. I do not notice any of the problems you have. Which makes me think your headset is defective.
Do you have the DMAS audio? This adds weight to the front from a balance point of view. Ignoring the weight it could well be defective, this is the Pimax lottery and the way it's always been.
@@KarlGosling yes, I have the dmas audio. The headset should be balanced. If it is not something is wrong. And it should never take 30 tries to update the headset. Mine updated on the first try. This is the best pimax experience I have had so far compared to all their other headsets.
I canceled my order for one based on your previous review, and this new one further validates that decision. Come to think of it, the construction of the headset itself is embarrassing (and reflective of the leadership at Pimax).
Any "finished" product that hits the market should work flawlessly and do what it is meant to. Anything less and it's nothing more than a very poor beta test. Unacceptable.
Karl, you are serious on the fov? I believe you but everywhere is claiming 120-140. If you are right on the average fov, it seriously isn't worth getting this headset unfortunately. I like the high res, but the fov needs to be 140.
@@KarlGosling Yes, I know. I saw the headline of your video about the updated firmware, but when I saw the release notes, I was really disappointed to see that there was still no support for eye tracking. I received a roadmap today in the email that seems to indicate that eyetracking, 120Hz, stand alone, auto IPD and some other features will be made available on September 15.
i think pimax have tried to be to clever & failed. I own a G2 for sim racing & would love a upgrade but nothing out there yet. I also own a pico 4 for stand alone games but even that's not perfect I'm on my second pico & that still has some issues with the left lense i get what looks like a smudge in the center so have to lift the headset up a little higher making it uncomfortable. I will bye the quest 3 when it comes out & hope it's good but waite & see 🤞
My Pimax 8KX is perfectly balanced... because I added some weights to the back :P It doesn't look as bad as the Crystal balance, even with the weights removed.
It's not well balanced if you hold it at the end of the strap and DON'T pull the back section down and DON'T place it on your head. However, when you actually place it on your head (as if you are using it - which is the idea) AND you pull the back down. Then the Pimax Crystal is well balanced...
That is not balance, that is using your head to grip it and hold it into place... look at the Pico 4 for a properly 50/50 balanced headset where the weight at the front equals the weight at the back... that is literally the definition of balance.
Vr hasn't been that impressive for a while, the vr games haven't been that exciting since Half Life Alyx and Resident Evil 4 vr came out, the PSVR 2 that I bought for the PS5 earlier this year has been disappointing and not that good because of the bugs and glitches in the vr games for it, the display gets blurry and distorted, the battery life on the PSVR 2 controllers don't last very long, don't use that headset very often, there hasn't been a decent vr headset that has come out since the Quest 2 in 2020, I tried the Pimax 8kx last year and it was garbage, nothing on that headset worked right at all, most of the time there was no audio in the DMAS earphones, the tracking wouldn't work most of the time with Steam vr, some Steam vr games wouldn't work right, most of the time the display on the 8kx wouldn't work, constant disconnecting issues, the 8kx headset itself is uncomfortable to wear after 5 minutes, I would never buy another Pimax headset after the 8kx, it was the worst vr headset that I have ever used, glad I was able to return it for a refund, also tried the HP Reverb G2 and that was garbage too, disconnecting issues, bugs and glitches with the Mixed Reality software, issues with Steam vr games, tracking issues, Reverb G2 controllers are crap and the battery life on them doesn't last very long, gave up on that headset as well, it has been sitting in my closet for the past couple of years, tried the HTC Vive Pro 2 a couple of years ago and that was a huge disappointment too, very narrow FOV and blurry display, returned that junk headset after trying it for a day, bought a Valve Index a couple of years ago, nice headset with a big FOV, but the Index controllers have issues with alot of Steam vr games and the Steam vr software itself has glitches and bugs sometimes, only use the Index when I have to put the Quest 2 on the charger, would of liked to try a Pico 4, but it's not available in the US, the Quest 2 has been the only vr headset that has been reliable and stable for me so far that I have been using since I bought it when it was released in 2020, all the other vr headsets that I have tried over the past couple of years have been total garbage, I looking forward to October when the Quest 3 comes out, I'm hoping that will be a game changer
You are a good guy........ but please make your video's shorter!!!! This video could have been done in 6 or 7 minutes max. I had to stop. You keep dragging on and on. Come to the point dude 😅😅😅
Hmmm... I see a TH-cam video that is a little too dark, the color contrast is highly saturated, the author speak in a gibberish type of accent, and makes certain assumptions that are not backed by presented facts. Now, how does that feel ? Maybe, just maybe the viewer wants to hear about the difference in soil types on the farmland they fly over. Maybe they want to hear about tree branches they see from 700 feet in the air. And maybe they want to hear about realist bladed grass at the old airport they visit. Maybe they don't want to revisit all the bitching like 1998 Avsim.
@@KarlGosling I just get sick and tired of every single one of these guys finding faults. I want to hear more about what is right. Tell me why I should buy the damned thing, not why I should not.
the only honest youtuber of VR out there. I bought Pimax Crystal and I am unhappy with it. Unfortunately returning procedure from EU is not easy one (paying double tax). I must live with this BETA product and hopefully some of the problems will be fixed via update.
Guys i weote a long comment… I live in New York and I actually I’m really annoyed with pimax But check out the review I just posted a minute ago I mean I love this thing
🤦♂️To test the balance you actually have to put it on your head. Nobody is saying it's not front heavy ..but when worn correctly with the back strap sinched in under the base of your skull it doesn't feel like your head is going to flop forward into your lap. This isn't that hard.. I get it, everyone's headshape is different, but calling those of us who have no issue with the balance Liars isn't a good look. Love the channel and value your opinion, but I ain't a liar. Edit. Admittedly I always recommend the StudioForm Apache Headstrap it solves all of the issues with balance and stability and keeping it in position. Also when the eye tracking is enabled it has a UI that guide you to put the pupils in the correct position. (in beta)
What you describe is not balance. You're explaining when you wear it adjusted to your skull it's not causing discomfort. He showed clearly what balance is and should be. When it's balanced as he demonstrates by lifting it at center strap, it would be even more comfortable. Hmd should ideally be balanced like that, and the pimax clearly isn't. Going against his explanation and saying it's well balanced is a lie, period. Being offended by that is ignoring facts, a thing which seems to be normal these days.
Yes indeed you are not talking about balance at all, balance requires equal weight distribution either side of a centered fulcrum... in this case, my finger.
@@antjones2281 Technically it's not that easy to get the balance right. Especially when most of the weight is primarily at the front where your eyes are situated. But it can be done for sure by a redesign, and especially when you mount a bulky battery like that at the back.
If Karl spent "5 hours" or more working with Tech Support trying to work out the issues with the headset, he, by definition, had to have "actually put it on" his head at some point. Also, the assumption that he must not have worn it before making his review seems a bit weird, considering Karl's reputation, don't you think? And seriously, he wasn't calling you a "liar" because your experience of the headset when on seems balanced. He is saying that the actual headset is not weighted in a balanced way--which he showed with the comparison with the ways the Pico 4 sits, versus the Crystal. Glad it feels "balanced" to you, but to extrapolate from his comments he's calling you a "liar" leans somewhat toward the ridiculous.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
The distortion comes from aspheric lenses and if you're seeing it then the HMD is not worn correctly, as you say. It's the same with the GearVR lens mod in the Vive. The newer Pimax software now tells you if you are wearing it correctly when you put it on and if you need to move it up or down, it's a nice feature.
Interesting as that would require eye tracking, I literally downloaded the latest software this afternoon and that feature is not there?!
But it's still a pain for active games, the headset is heavy and so moves around easily with momentum
@@KarlGosling Ah yes true, I do have eye tracking enabled. You'd need the beta from Pimax for that. Agree a headset of this size and weight isn't really suited to active games. It's 95% for sims for me with Quest over VD for anything else.
Appreciate your honest reviews. I am a crystal owner. Your review is spot on. I haven't experienced the connection issues, setup was easy for me. But the main point is unless you prioritize display quality above all else, this isn't the best choice. I would've upgraded to an aero and not waited for this to come out in retrospect.
Ah at least yours worked reliably out of the box mate, thats something!
Appreciate you coming back after the firmware updates to test again. Good to see balanced pros and cons arguments across different reviewers. This headset seems to be one of the more subjective experiences out there for sure. Good job!
If you don't mind the size/weight and now poor tracking it has really good visuals, probably some of the best I've seen!
Great update. Glad to hear that the USB issue seems to be better. With the 8kx I know that I had to restart my WLAN service because I had a USB wifi connector and after starting the pimax, if I wanted to play anything on multiplayer I had to re-start the WLAN service in windows so the connection wouldn't lag.
Hi Karl, I love your honest review of the Pimax Crystal. Other reviewers appear to have had no issues with their headsets. Probably they have been given the headset, and it has been tweaked, so they have no problems and are obligated to the company to provide a good first impression. This headset is expensive; it should be plug-and-play and have the wide FOV that Pimax is known for. There is nowhere in the UK where you can try a VR headset before you buy; maybe no one would buy them then.
I notice the smaller channels all say it's amazing but the larger channels, Boosted Media, Tyriel Wood, DiscoVR all have the same problems (and more) as I do... make of that what you will mate.
Good to hear it's running better for you. You are still having infinitely more problems than my experience so far though, luckily for me I guess lol. As for having to do room setup each time, unfortunately yes it does not save setup between sessions, hopefully that will be implemented, it's a must really.
Yeah I'm sure thats an easy fix, although it was in the last firmware and software revisions too so maybe not?! lol
I have been skipping the room setup altogether. It worked fine the first two times, as long as you start the headset from the same position. I had some problems with the floor the 3rd time, even after the latest update. Fixed it by using OVR Advanced settings and recenter space. It's a pain having to do it at all, but at least you don't have to do it every
They should have released it with at least the eye tracking software working to soften the blow imo, seeing in real time if you are wearing correctly and having the ipd adjust automatically is a big deal, not to talk about the performance benefit brought by foveated rendering. You do indeed need to do a lot of research and tinker with it before you can play, not great for those who just want a ready out of the box experience.
Thanks for humoring me and testing with a powered usb. Worth a shot. Appreciate the thourogh steps to get it working for our information 👍
No worries at all mate, anything is worth a shot and it could well have been! Just because the headset has a battery that doesn't stop Pimax pulling loads of USB power too, they have some funny ideas as it is! lol
I’ve watched loads of your videos and I really like your honest reviews on products. I understand you need to make some money but your honesty is what I like. Look forward to pimax review on Msfs. Keep up the great work 👍
Thank you mate, money can sway a lot of reviewers I'm sure, I'm also sure I'm missing out on a lot of revenue but products are what they are, no point sugar coating things IMO.
Glad you mentioned the weird location issue, where you are suddenly floating in space. I had this since I received mine. Thought it was just me. It's only been fixed (mostly) with the recent controller update. Connections are now a lot more reliable than my Reverb G2...
It seems they are gradually getting there with the updates.
this is so strange! I agree with your other points, but the headset actually balances for me. Maybe the cable when wrapped to the back makes it feel better, but its defo a lot more comfortable than some other pimax headsets. only grudge is how heavy it is, cause the facial interface digs into my skin a lil much
In fairness it's closer to being balanced than previous headsets as it has a battery as a counter weight, but yeah still way too big, bulky and heavy for no reward.
@@KarlGosling yea! i lowkey wanted to get a varjo since im using lighthouse tracking anyways, i just moved from a quest so i thought that the standalone mode might be convenient on the pimax. its way too big of a tradeoff considering how heavy it is though
I agreed with all your points in the last video, but for the weight one, I don't think the argument is settled as the back of the headstrap was way higher than it would be when wearing. I don't think I've seen anyone else say it's not balanced. Honestly, it really is very well balanced.
The weight and bulk is still far FAR too much, especially in 2023 and with normal FOV.
i saw Karl try the balance in the first video and its way off. weight and balance seems wrong
Honestly mate no matter how far forward I try to balance it (as you can see in the video) it always pulls itself forwards, even with the battery hanging as low as it can and my finger right at the front of the strap.
@@KarlGosling Honestly, with Pimax's quality control there might be some random lead weight in the front haha. I went through 3 myself before getting a well working one, pure lottery. Thanks for the videos btw.
The Crystal is too heavy, too large "for no reason", and NOT balanced. There is no way around this fact. It is good for stationary use and that's it.@@HeadsetHistorian
Crazy how different issues we experience. I did have a TON of connectivity issues when I was trying to use the included usb hub but have zero issues without it. The weight doesn't bother me anymore since I got the apache strap. I do get a lot of chromatic abberation ( yes my IPD is set correctly) but my biggest issue is the brightness difference between the eyes and I can NOT make them the same. Also the left lens looks blurrier than the right. Like I can look at something down below and my right eye is sharp, my left eye is blurry ( the headset sits level on my face)
Interesting you say you can't see much / enough difference in sim racing. To be honest ( might have said this in your last video) I was very disappointed with the crystal when I got it. Then I was playing with it for a whole month and went back to my old headset and then I realized the game with that headset was almost as awful looking as I was playing on a playstation 1! Also have to mention with my old headset I was playing with 1.5 render resolution and with the crystal I only play at 0.75 render scale. While I really enjoy crystal in Asetto I still couldn't recommend this headset for anyone especially when it costs so much and comes with so many issues.
Sounds like a typical Pimax experience there mate, totally agree with you!
Bradley Lynch also talked about the distortion sweetspot that was mentioned near the end of this video. But half the youtube reviewers don't even mention it, which i think is absurd as it's the first thing i noticed when trying on this headset. I think Tyriel is one of the honest reviewers as well.
If you get a free Crystal, they will review it positive as possible. MRTV got a free htc XR headset(worst standalone headset in the world for that price) and he recommded to his subscribers.
I agree and always watch his channel, great through the lens video's too!
Everything from MRTV is overly positive IMO.
This review seems way more fair than your last of the pros and cons. Thanks! Quick question on your VR vs. your triples, do you feel that the right side screen for the triples really gives a perception of the rest of the car rather than feeling like a flat picture of the side of the car? The only way I can explain what I mean is that in VR there's depth perception when you look to the right which makes the right side of the car appear correct, but I'm concerned with trying triples that it will simply feel like a 2d screen that is flat and doesn't give the perception of the car going "off into the distance" so to speak.
I just share my exact experience as it is mate, good or bad :)
It still feels flat, not like VR, but it's way better than a single screen and much more comfortable and cooler for long play sessions.
I’m a simple vr consumer, I like to set and forget and be able to trust my headset with the simple task of that each time I put it on, it just works and I don’t need to faff about. Pimax has always seemed like a lottery product and I can’t be bothered with any faff that goes into what should be a simple plug and play session. My vr time is limited and I want to jump right in and play and have zero faff time. I’ll always take reliability over better visuals!
I agree 100%, I have little time for it too, it's bad enough waiting for updates that are inevitably needed if you've not played a game in a while!
Thanks for a honest review!! I wanted to upgrade from a Pimax8kx but the Crystal is just simply too expensive for what you get! Especially taking taxes and import duty into account! I also have a Rtx 380 I am a casual vr gamer and cant afford to upgrade to a 480 and buy the Crystal.
No worries mate, the visual experience is great but everything else lets it down.
Nah.
Not for me.
I'm sticking with my Qpro until I have money for Varjo Aero.
I know it's more expensive, but I would end smashing the crystal up the wall.
Thanks mate. Appreciate your update.
Yeah I think the QPro is a safe bet for now if you're happy.
Thanks for your honest reviews mate, sick of all the delusional youtube and consumer reviews about Pimax.
Honest review and really sorry you had such a ball-ache getting things to work. I've had a Crystal (my first Pimax headset) for about a month now and also had the usual "Pimax experience" of various hassles, though not as bad as yours. For me the battery life was really bad until the latest firmware fixed it and I also need reading glasses to be able to get a clear image, unlike my Pico 4 or G2. I've had cataract surgery and so can't focus on the Crystal screens without corrective inserts or glasses, despite having 20/20 distance vision. But being a long time flight sim enthusiast I've persevered.
As far as weight and comfort, it was awful to start with, but once I bought an Apache head-strap that all changed and it's no longer an issue in Microsoft Flight Sim, which is what I bought it for. In fact it's now the most comfortable headset I own for my needs. You DO need a 4090 to get the most out of it though, so with my 5800x3D CPU and a 4090 it is actually by far the best headset available now for flight sims in terms of visuals, onboard sound and the microphone.
I was flying today with the res maxed out using PimaxVR and the Toolkit from Matt and the cockpit and scenery were just stunning; incredibly sharp with great colours and true blacks...no way I could go back to the likes of a G2, despite my own sore balls getting things set up right. The FOV is acceptable for now and hopefully will be that bit better with the new wider FOV lenses incoming later this year (I DO like the interchangeable lenses, that's a huge plus to me).
For standalone use though, I think even the Pico 4 is way, way better, glare and all, and at a much lower price. I think Pimax made a huge error (pun intended) making this a one size fits all headset for PCVR plus standalone. Better to just concentrate on PCVR use for simmers. Oh, must add that I had zero connection issues with a fairly cheap motherboard and I even use a crummy Logitech wireless mouse. Like you say, it's a lottery. Anyway, alla best and cheers from Tasmania. 🙂
Great to get your feedback and hear your experience mate, I'm also glad it works for you without too much ball ache! lol
you are a honest reviewer and that's the best anyone could ask for, a honest review.
Thanks mate.
This is a great review and really sums up VR currently for PC with a cable. I have been waiting for a really nice solution for the PC for years and was hoping this would be the magic bullet but bulk always seems to spoil the party.
Agreed mate!
I've tried four headsets now. The quest 2, PSVR2, reverb G2 V2, and now the Pimax Crystal. Hands-down, the PSVR2 is the best headset experience so far. It has the largest field of view, it's lightweight, comfortable, and it works right out of the box perfectly every time with no additional software no settings to fiddle with nothing. From minute one, you just turn it on and use it. The tracking is impeccable, The controller tracking is also impeccable, and it just works perfectly as intended every time. Next I would say the reverb G2. As far as the PC goes, that headset gave me a much better experience than a Pimax Crystal. It has a relatively small field of view, and is like seeing the world with a scuba mask on, and it's not as clear as the crystal, or as smooth on frame rates, but it's far more comfortable, and works every time flawlessly. On top of all of its connectivity issues software communication issues, and lack of good support, the headset itself just feels like it's made for someone with a very large head. Even the face mask is wider than my skull. At the sides of the facemask interface, I can literally stick my fingers in between the face plate and my skin. And I do get a fair amount of light bleed through there. I don't have a particularly small head, but it definitely makes my head feel small.
The screen door on the PSVR2 was so bad, that and the small sweet spot. For me it's between the Crystal and Quest 3
I picked up this headset yesterday secondhand for a really good price as i wanted eye tracking.
I had low expectations after owning a HTC Vive Elite XR, Quest 3 and PSVR2.
Took me 45mins to dial everything in and once up and running, my jaw dropped and finally realised where PCVR is going especially for sim racing.
The clarity is almost 4K like compared to my 4K monitors. but we just need to be realistic, at 5760x2880 and a massive FOV, it kills the 4090. I don’t think i have ever made any game stutter with 4090, even on my sim rig which has a 57 inch 7680x2160 Ultra-Wide Monitor (DUHD - Two 4K panels joined into one), the 4090 hums along nicely.
now the headset is closing in on the original promise, GPUs are now lagging behind.
Karl is a rational not sold reviewer! Thumbs up!
I've heard a few not sold reviewers who love the crystal
@@lvx4408 how can you love such backward flawed design and execution and not be sold out? It must be an oxymoron.
I really appreciate the straight talking no bs review, or follow up I guess. I watched another reviewer gush over it and I knew as soon as he said it weighed about the same as an Index (its 50% heavier!) that I couldnt trust another word that came out of his mouth.
On paper the crystal is exactly what I want from a new VR HMD, minus the weight which is an absolute deal breaker for me. But even ignoring the weight, many key features dont work at all yet. Guess I wont be owning a Pimax headset any time soon…
MRTV?
I agree mate, some very misleading reviews out there... Pimax do pay good commission though 🤷♂️
The size and weight is just not good in 2023 when everything is focused on going smaller and lighter, which is what we all want!
Never?! lol
@@ThePape78Yes ^_^
@@KarlGoslingYeah I just know I wouldnt use something that heavy. I have a feeling the vision pro will also be heavy.
I went from day1 vive to day1 index and I am currently itching for a proper upgrade. I barely do any VR these days, I hate the tether and SDE, next headset needs to take them out of the equation and should be no heavier than an Index (preferably lighter).
Sounds like a Pimax to me, I've had an 8KX for 2 years, it took a month to get it running well, and a week when I changed gaming PC, but now it is pretty damn good.
It is indeed a typical Pimax experience!
Would love to see what you think of the big screen beyond. Are you getting one?
I'm not mate, I'd need to buy base stations and controllers too so would bet getting close to £1800!
@@KarlGosling oh my bad, i thought you had an index for some reason
It feels like they took old chassis slammed everything they could in there and made this abomination instead of making a new well designed headset that does not try to do everything. Never buy beta products only consider it after all the issues are fixed and features included but by the time if that even happens a newer better headset will probably be out without legendary pimax quality control issues. As far as USB issues it seems a common thing with many headsets as someone who tests them you should get pci-e usb card that has separate controller on each port and has sata plug inside pc to power it to eliminate points of failure and also i know its expensive but these high resolution headsets can only be properly tested on a 4090 which is more in line with what the headset costs (can only use the argument oh most people have lower end gpu when you compare it with like a quest 2 cost)
Randomly the pimax software makes one of my screens dark as well, of course randomly because this is Pimax..
My first VR headset was a Pimax 4k as I couldn't source the original Rift at the time. I won't touch a Pimax product after that experience. Visuals were also good at the time but the problems and comfort, even back then was terrible. Really happy with my G2 and eagerly awaiting my Big screen VR headset. But getting a Pimax will never happen again.
Mine keeps disconnecting from Pimax Play Client about every half hour, causing Microsoft flight simulator to freeze. The screen goes black, and it won't reconnect to Pimax Play until I reboot my PC. When I run the diagnostic it says "Missing VC Components" and options you to "VC Repair" which appears to be a Visual C++ redistributable, but the installer they link you to is all in chinese, so you don't even see what it is, nor can you read the installers option buttons on the installer, unless you speak chinese... Not sure if that is what my issue is...
First and fore most I agree that the Crystal is a heavy overweight bugger, but I just tried the balance thing with my unit and it balances really well. The only real difference that I see between your test and mine is that I have strap tighter.
Maybe that moves the balance point, but it shouldn't? Mine is set as I use it on my head.
Same here - mine is setup for my head, and the balance is near perfect. Wish that there was some way to send you a pic or vid...
FOV comments especially regarding the case right on the money. Pimax really dropped the ball here.
Yeah I think they are just cost saving by reusing existing chassis, straps and audio, they didn't even change the colour from blue to black to make the speakers match! lol
I got the headset and everything you say Karl I completely agree and as such returning it.
I think most people will if they don't know what they are getting into.
I sub because of the no bullshit perspective…. Thanks Karl.
Thanks mate!
Pico needs to get these display panels for their Pico 5 and get glass lenses or at least better pancake lenses. Would kill Quest 3.
omg, picked up this headset yesterday secondhand for a really good price as i wanted eye tracking.
I had low expectations after owning a HTC Vive Elite XR, Quest 3 and PSVR2.
Took me 45mins to dial everything in and once up and running, my jaw dropped and finally realised where PCVR is going especially for sim racing.
The clarity is almost 4K like compared to my 4K monitors. but we just need to be realistic, at 5760x2880 and a massive FOV, it kills the 4090. I don’t think i have ever made any game stutter with 4090, even on my sim rig which has a 57 inch 7680x2160 Ultra-Wide Monitor (DUHD - Two 4K panels joined into one), the 4090 hums along nicely.
now the headset is closing in on the original promise, GPUs are now lagging behind and i will not trade the wireless over a cable straight into the GPU. can’t stand compressed / upscaled video signals, it just destroys the image quality.
if you guys are on the fence, pick up a cheap Pimax Crystal secondhand and give it a try.
Really nice video mate. Just dont know about this, ive had to pimax headests now. They seem to release at least a year late and then take another year to actually be finished while you have it. It's a lot of money for something that will probably never run faultlessly.
100% agree mate, I would steer clear unless for some reason you really, really want one?! lol
sorry to hear you had so many issues. Mine arrived about 10 days ago and everything connected/updated and worked on 1st try. I do have a high-end Intel based system and graphics card . The controller tracking is crappy (just like my old G2) and for me trying to get that sweet spot of having it positioned correctly on my head is an issue. I also am not sure if I have the IPD dialed in properly as i get that wavey visual that makes it seem one eye is seeing the visuals at a different level than the other. However for me no doubt the clarity is amazing. As for the weight , it is heavier than the G2 for sure but not in an uncomfortable way. As others have said all these things are very subjective and are not univeral issues. I only flightsim and my views are based on that platform.
I'm glad yours at least connected and updated without issue, one of the things I notice in the recent software update was better AMD support so this may have helped me!
Sounds like maybe the lenses are misaligned? IPD usually just adds a little blur if it's not set correctlly.
The comfort and fit is of course subjective, but yes it's very heavy for a VR headset.
I have been keen on upgrading my quest 2 for some time now. Was looking at this or a quest 3. I could easily afford a Pimax but I don't want issues. 6900 xt with 32 gb ram and 11700 f cpu is my set up , a recent upgrade.
I would wait for the Q3, if you want a standalone headset this is not the one.
@@KarlGosling Thanks mate for the help! I'll wait until it's got a decent strap to go with it though.pity I can't swap my kiwi elite strap and controller handgrips over.
Maybe the vr cover cushions I bought for the face? Kiwi Battery backpack?I bought a lot of mods😁
Hey Karl, please measure the FOV with the free Stream VR workshop tool called "ROV Test FOV & Resolution". BTW, do You have both lenses, the higher FOV (35 PPD) and the narrower (42 PPD) too? I'm curious about the differences.
The other lenses are not yet available, at least thats what I was told.
@@KarlGosling OK, but wich one is the "other" the wider FOV (35 PPD)? I hope so... As they claimed 140 degrees FOV horizontal with the lower PPD and 125 degrees with the 42 PPD lens, right? Both sound OK, but for some reason I'm still skeptical. It'd be good to see some real world tests now.
The crystal is nowhere near 140 degrees with any of the lenses they have. I beleive the standard lenses that everyone gets right now are the 35PPD lenses. They are no longer doing the narrow lenses and instead they are working on a "wide fov" lens that should increase the standard fov by about 15 percent which still won't come anywhere near the 140 degree fov. @@lukejanfoux4523
great review karl , my fav tech reviewer 👍
Thanks mate, doing my best!
For RTX 4090 users, do you reckon the Pimax Crystal is the best headset the market has to offer as far as sim racing goes?
Only if it works reliably and is comfortable for you, the displays are great!
I had the Pico 4 and the FOV seems better on the Pimax Crystal tbh. Also I don't agree there's nothing new, this is the only headset with mixed display port / standalone mode that also has eye tracking for example. Most other issues (controller tracking, cable) could possibly fixed with different announced modules in the future, steamvr faceplate have just been tested by MTVR and gives perfect tracking (need the extra hardware of course), wireless module is coming and should be a lot better than wifi streaming, but yeah as it is, there's a long way to go for Pimax to get everything working properly. I had a Pimax 8k and knew what i was getting into, but for other people, this probably won't be acceptable.
The DP is a fair point actually mate yes that is new, but the eye tracking doesn't yet work and extra modules to fix problems is not only the wrong way to fix things but it will add more weight (and cost) to an already unwieldy headset.
Using external tracking not only negates the point of ISO tracking it adds a lot of extra cost for first time buyers (another £800) making it terrible value, plus for anything other than sim racing or flight it's just too big and heavy, FPS, sports games, etc.... I could literally wear two Pico 4's or Quest 2's and still have less bulk and weight on my head! lol
@@KarlGosling Actually i got a used vive with base stations and wands for 150 so it's not that much in my case. Also you're comparing products with several months / years of tracking improvement ( quest 2 had occlusion issues at the beginning, same as tracking issues with pico 4) with a just released headset, it has already improved and will probably keep improving. But yeah, things like weight can be a make or break issue for example.
Really like your channel, I am just getting into Sim racing and looking for a cockpit, I don't have much room but would like something permeant but small.
GT Omega Titan is quite small, worth a look.
Link and discount in the description of any of my video too.
How would this headset go for sim racing with a high powered/fast motion system bouncing you around?
It would move on your head would be my guess! I'm yet to try it with my motion on but I will.
whats the best vr headset that is high quality but is easier for user interface. will the crystal primax work on a rtx4090 laptop
Some stuff is subjective but I always tune in and appreciate your honest opinion mate, keep up the good work 👍
It is mate yes, comfort, weight, having a cable... but I think we can all agree that headsets are and should be striving to get smaller and lighter with good quality wireless connectivity, this is the future for sure! :)
I agree with lighter and smaller, but I have yet to see a wireless connectivity headset that matches the visuals and performance of a good one with a Display Port - maybe someday, but not today IMHO.
I think your display problem is from HDR if you have that on, if you dont then its most definitely a pimax side thing
Waiting to see what the Virtual Desktop performance is like.
I don't think we'll see that in the Pimax store.
@@KarlGosling All the standalone launch titles look pants
I have probably got the same barrel distortion Tyriel was talking about and it's not just something that you get when you move around, it's always there unfortunately, it's just that when you move around with your head you can notice straight lines distort in real time. Pimax decided to send me a new lens to try out after I opened a ticket because I too was starting to feel sick after about 1h play session. It's just like one lens has a different distortion profile than the other. Some of my friends couldn't use it for long because it's only present on the left eye for most people I have talked with on reddit and discord.
That balancing problem is strange, it's definitely there but I don't feel it as much as I did with the vive pro 2 for example, which was sitting on my nose. Although, to be fair I had to tinker with it a bit before finding the right balance and had to use some extra stuff (Omniwhatever has a video on it) to help with the wobbling and narrow strap. (but then again I had to do the same with all the other headsets, index was the easiest because I could 3D print a new face mask)
All in all I agree it does not look like a finished product, but I hope they can fix most of the problems. I had many with all the other headsets I have owned but this one seems like the most problematic. The weight will always be there but the clarity is what counts for me and this definitely has it all with the right lenses and enough resolution to only notice sde on completely white backgrounds and only if you are looking for it. Maybe a different company will do it better in the near future.
Sounds like typical Pimax QC mate.
I'm sure someone will, it's only a matter of fitting these displays into a smaller unit like the Pico 4 for example.
@@KarlGosling Or something like the bigscreen beyond, the form factor of that headset is crazy. The only thing that made me chose the Crystal over it was the possibility of sharing it with other people and the lenses. No ipd adjustment and no aspheric lenses are a no go for me from now on.
CA and distortions can at least be fixed via software if the team is good enough. It took Varjo about 1 year to fix all those issues. But the glare caused by all the other lenses is not fixable. Maybe even the quest 3 will be good enough, who knows...
@@KarlGosling I have got an update for you so you can inform people if they do get this issue. Pimax has sent me a new left lens so I could replace the old one which I had also scratched while trying to test it. They sent it for free thank god but I don't know if that will be the case for everyone obviously.
Either way the new lens fixed the distortion, so as you were saying they have got QC issues they need to address. Biggest problem is that you should not get this kind of issues after having paid so much, and that it also took them 2 months to get to the conclusion that the lens would have to be replaced.
The weight wouldn't worry me as I have rode a bike with a heavy full face helmet for over 40 years but wouldn't touch it with a bar of soap . For that much money I want something to work out of the box. Still until they get a large sweetspot in iRacing they are not for me ( have tried 2 different types and outside the sweet spot they look horrible )
I'm also a helmet wearer and have been my entire life, but given the choice I'd rather not play computer games wearing something this heavy! lol
Yeah you do have to get them in just the right spot, everything is getting better as time goes on... well, most things! lol
This is not a 1600.00 headset. I have serious battery problem. But the dynamics are insane.
Whats up with your battery mate?
Thanks, loads of real life thoughts, I keep the G2 and hope for Deckard 🍻😝🤗👍🤞
Yeah thats my thoughts mate.
Did it improve performance and/or visuals?
Wasn't working long enough before to be able to compare mate.
Where did you get the t-shirt?
Great video Karl! I got my crystal 4 days ago and so far i like my g2 better. Im running a 4090 and a 7800x3d on only sim racing rig. I just dont see a difference while racing. It does look much better when your still though. Its also way less comfortable. Im happy you mentioning the warped barrel problem, i wasnt sure if that was just mine. It took me a few tries to update the firmware also.
Sounds spot on Greg.
what game you running? Have you tried AMS2? I ran AMS2 3100x3000 , 2x supersampling and ultra settings. Looks fantastic on my G2. I'm interested in how the Pimax compares running native without the supersampling and MSAA.
I'm not sure you have that setup right. I've done both and the difference is not even close. The fov of the g2 is tiny and the distortion outside of the very center and tiny sweet spot is awful. The crystal is a pain on your face, but looks in game like heaven no matter where you look.
thank you for your discount code for VR wave.
No worries!
@KarlGosling it got me a facial cover. Thanks again.
Wish I could waffle like you Karl! Mine would be - some bits are good some bits crap goodbye.
lol Clearly it's a gift?! 😆
At this point, any experiences w/ less than a 4080 card should be ignored for visuals/performance purposes. In fact, Pimax should just state it in their marketing: min specs: 4080, 12gen i7 with 32gb of RAM 😂. Otherwise, why bother with all the issues if you ain’t getting a “max” experience out of a headset that promotes high fidelity in a 1st place
It's the same for anything fairly modern and high res, even a Q2 can't be run maxed out on my 3080 for example.
Once again. It will always be a weight thing. Glad that it doesn’t bother some people, but I like racing for hours. Or Pavlov for hours.
Would be useless for Pavlov or any FPS IMO mate.
I am very disappointed with this review update. I didn't get to see him slam the Pimax Crystal on the ground and see all the pieces shatter into obliteration lol.
On a serious note, I can't wait to see him review the 12K which have the weight of two more bricks on top of the Crystal's.
Thank you
Sorry to say that, but a 3080 is just not good enough to push this headset in sim-racing with the resolution it demands. With my 8KX you need quite a ridiculous supersampling to get the best clarity out of it plus some headroom in fpsVR both with GPU and CPU to keep tracking and stream stable. Those tyical VR-issues usually appears if there is not enough headroom and running VR at 90+% instead of 65 % or less. At least the 4080 is way better than the 3080 I've had before for VR and expected less of a performance-bump after watching several flat-games benchmarks. The 40-series is overpriced, but really a game-changer for VR and feels like two to three generations better than the 30-series while switching form 2080 to 3080 did almost nothing.
No need to be sorry mate, I know full well it's not enough :)
And it's not just this headset, all modern HMD's with a reasonable res are the same, even the Q2 if you want the best out of it needs more than my 3080.
But for most PCVR it's fine, just sim racing and flight sim... I guess because all other PCVR titles are made specifically for VR and sim titles are not.
How does the 4070 stack up?
I think there is something wrong with your headset. Pimax needs to exchange it. After watching this video I just grabbed my headset and tried the balance test and it is fine. I did the update on the first try. Never have any connection issues. And image quality is far better than reverb g2 in sim racing. I do not notice any of the problems you have. Which makes me think your headset is defective.
Maybe you have the lighter, plastic lenses. I would check as you definitely don't want those.
@@dtz1000 I have the glass lenses.
Do you have the DMAS audio? This adds weight to the front from a balance point of view.
Ignoring the weight it could well be defective, this is the Pimax lottery and the way it's always been.
@@KarlGosling yes, I have the dmas audio. The headset should be balanced. If it is not something is wrong. And it should never take 30 tries to update the headset. Mine updated on the first try. This is the best pimax experience I have had so far compared to all their other headsets.
I canceled my order for one based on your previous review, and this new one further validates that decision. Come to think of it, the construction of the headset itself is embarrassing (and reflective of the leadership at Pimax).
Yeah I just can't recommend it mate.
I think the issue is the 3080. I've seen other reviewers talk about the crystal not even connecting to their PC with the 3080.
Did you watch the video mate? All is well after a firmware and software update, it was a USB connection issue not GPU mate.
Any "finished" product that hits the market should work flawlessly and do what it is meant to. Anything less and it's nothing more than a very poor beta test. Unacceptable.
I agree... but this is just the Pimax way it seems!
You could have said you didn't like the Crystal being another black colored VR headset and someone would be here to tell you why you're wrong
True.
Karl, you are serious on the fov? I believe you but everywhere is claiming 120-140. If you are right on the average fov, it seriously isn't worth getting this headset unfortunately. I like the high res, but the fov needs to be 140.
It's comparable to the Index, afaik. They're developing wide fov lenses, that will bring another 15% more fov, as they said.
Yup, do a quick Google search for yourself mate.
Index is wider with the current lenses, this is pretty much the same as every other headset thats around 100 degrees give or take.
I can't believe they updated the firmware and it still doesn't support eye-tracking.
It's in beta right now, I have a version to try out so will report back.
@@KarlGosling Yes, I know. I saw the headline of your video about the updated firmware, but when I saw the release notes, I was really disappointed to see that there was still no support for eye tracking. I received a roadmap today in the email that seems to indicate that eyetracking, 120Hz, stand alone, auto IPD and some other features will be made available on September 15.
It seems they are using the buyers as testers, products at this price should work out of the box .
Very much so mate.
some of the people in the comments will accept anything
Having so much weight and the need of battery kills it for me.
Agreed.
i think pimax have tried to be to clever & failed. I own a G2 for sim racing & would love a upgrade but nothing out there yet. I also own a pico 4 for stand alone games but even that's not perfect I'm on my second pico & that still has some issues with the left lense i get what looks like a smudge in the center so have to lift the headset up a little higher making it uncomfortable.
I will bye the quest 3 when it comes out & hope it's good but waite & see 🤞
The quest pro Shaun 😊
My Pimax 8KX is perfectly balanced... because I added some weights to the back :P It doesn't look as bad as the Crystal balance, even with the weights removed.
I want to put my firmware in your software
at least buy me dinner first
You shouldn’t have to spend 1 minute with support. I hate fan boys.
The video is so long. Whats the answer? Has the updates fixit it?
If it was a yes or no answer the video would be short 😉
@@KarlGosling haha yeah true but if its not a "yes" i guess its kinda a "no" also 😆
It's not well balanced if you hold it at the end of the strap and DON'T pull the back section down and DON'T place it on your head. However, when you actually place it on your head (as if you are using it - which is the idea) AND you pull the back down. Then the Pimax Crystal is well balanced...
That is not balance, that is using your head to grip it and hold it into place... look at the Pico 4 for a properly 50/50 balanced headset where the weight at the front equals the weight at the back... that is literally the definition of balance.
Vr hasn't been that impressive for a while, the vr games haven't been that exciting since Half Life Alyx and Resident Evil 4 vr came out, the PSVR 2 that I bought for the PS5 earlier this year has been disappointing and not that good because of the bugs and glitches in the vr games for it, the display gets blurry and distorted, the battery life on the PSVR 2 controllers don't last very long, don't use that headset very often, there hasn't been a decent vr headset that has come out since the Quest 2 in 2020, I tried the Pimax 8kx last year and it was garbage, nothing on that headset worked right at all, most of the time there was no audio in the DMAS earphones, the tracking wouldn't work most of the time with Steam vr, some Steam vr games wouldn't work right, most of the time the display on the 8kx wouldn't work, constant disconnecting issues, the 8kx headset itself is uncomfortable to wear after 5 minutes, I would never buy another Pimax headset after the 8kx, it was the worst vr headset that I have ever used, glad I was able to return it for a refund, also tried the HP Reverb G2 and that was garbage too, disconnecting issues, bugs and glitches with the Mixed Reality software, issues with Steam vr games, tracking issues, Reverb G2 controllers are crap and the battery life on them doesn't last very long, gave up on that headset as well, it has been sitting in my closet for the past couple of years, tried the HTC Vive Pro 2 a couple of years ago and that was a huge disappointment too, very narrow FOV and blurry display, returned that junk headset after trying it for a day, bought a Valve Index a couple of years ago, nice headset with a big FOV, but the Index controllers have issues with alot of Steam vr games and the Steam vr software itself has glitches and bugs sometimes, only use the Index when I have to put the Quest 2 on the charger, would of liked to try a Pico 4, but it's not available in the US, the Quest 2 has been the only vr headset that has been reliable and stable for me so far that I have been using since I bought it when it was released in 2020, all the other vr headsets that I have tried over the past couple of years have been total garbage, I looking forward to October when the Quest 3 comes out, I'm hoping that will be a game changer
That's a pretty fair summation of things I think mate.
You are a good guy........ but please make your video's shorter!!!! This video could have been done in 6 or 7 minutes max. I had to stop. You keep dragging on and on. Come to the point dude 😅😅😅
My video's are detailed and I like a chat, that's just the way I am mate :)
Hmmm... I see a TH-cam video that is a little too dark, the color contrast is highly saturated, the author speak in a gibberish type of accent, and makes certain assumptions that are not backed by presented facts. Now, how does that feel ? Maybe, just maybe the viewer wants to hear about the difference in soil types on the farmland they fly over. Maybe they want to hear about tree branches they see from 700 feet in the air. And maybe they want to hear about realist bladed grass at the old airport they visit. Maybe they don't want to revisit all the bitching like 1998 Avsim.
How does it feel?... It feels like you watched a different video to the one you have commented on.
@@KarlGosling I just get sick and tired of every single one of these guys finding faults. I want to hear more about what is right. Tell me why I should buy the damned thing, not why I should not.
the only honest youtuber of VR out there. I bought Pimax Crystal and I am unhappy with it. Unfortunately returning procedure from EU is not easy one (paying double tax). I must live with this BETA product and hopefully some of the problems will be fixed via update.
Ah mate I feel for you, mine is on loan from Pimax so at least I've not forked over hard earned for it!
Guys i weote a long comment… I live in New York and I actually I’m really annoyed with pimax But check out the review I just posted a minute ago I mean I love this thing
🤦♂️To test the balance you actually have to put it on your head. Nobody is saying it's not front heavy ..but when worn correctly with the back strap sinched in under the base of your skull it doesn't feel like your head is going to flop forward into your lap.
This isn't that hard..
I get it, everyone's headshape is different, but calling those of us who have no issue with the balance Liars isn't a good look.
Love the channel and value your opinion, but I ain't a liar.
Edit. Admittedly I always recommend the StudioForm Apache Headstrap it solves all of the issues with balance and stability and keeping it in position.
Also when the eye tracking is enabled it has a UI that guide you to put the pupils in the correct position. (in beta)
What you describe is not balance.
You're explaining when you wear it adjusted to your skull it's not causing discomfort.
He showed clearly what balance is and should be.
When it's balanced as he demonstrates by lifting it at center strap, it would be even more comfortable.
Hmd should ideally be balanced like that, and the pimax clearly isn't.
Going against his explanation and saying it's well balanced is a lie, period.
Being offended by that is ignoring facts, a thing which seems to be normal these days.
Yes indeed you are not talking about balance at all, balance requires equal weight distribution either side of a centered fulcrum... in this case, my finger.
@@EricW6800The Quest 2 is front heavy as well so ..needed a Bobo VR strap was the only solution.
I bought an elite strap and 2 of them cracked on me.
@@antjones2281
Technically it's not that easy to get the balance right.
Especially when most of the weight is primarily at the front where your eyes are situated.
But it can be done for sure by a redesign, and especially when you mount a bulky battery like that at the back.
If Karl spent "5 hours" or more working with Tech Support trying to work out the issues with the headset, he, by definition, had to have "actually put it on" his head at some point. Also, the assumption that he must not have worn it before making his review seems a bit weird, considering Karl's reputation, don't you think?
And seriously, he wasn't calling you a "liar" because your experience of the headset when on seems balanced. He is saying that the actual headset is not weighted in a balanced way--which he showed with the comparison with the ways the Pico 4 sits, versus the Crystal.
Glad it feels "balanced" to you, but to extrapolate from his comments he's calling you a "liar" leans somewhat toward the ridiculous.
1st