VARJO AERO or PIMAX 8KX? LET'S SETTLE THIS!!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- PIMAX OR VARJO? Which is the better headset for YOUR needs? Let's find out in this 10 minute video....
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Ok here goes.... I attempt to answer one of the most difficult questions in the VR industry... Which is better, the Pimax 8KX with its WIDE FOV... or the Varjo Aero with its INSANE clarity? Let me know YOUR thoughts in the comments below 👇👇👇
I'm married to my G2 until we have a headset with Aero's clarity, G2's speakers, and the FOV of the 8kX with inside out tracking and auto IPD. That's when I'll upgrade.
we have a headset with Aero's clarity, it is called Aero lol
You mean we have a headset we can afford
@@beepIL No, I clearly mean one headset with all of these attributes. And I'm not wealthy by any means, but I would invest $2k in a headset that would be a one time purchase for a 5 year+ lifespan, with high resale value. Look at what people are spending on 3090s! Flight Sim and VR peripherals hold value far better than graphics cards . I'm already saving up for what VR will have to offer in the next couple years. Until then, I'll fly my G2 and not get headset envy.
I'm still on my Oculus CV1. Saving for a similar big investment when similar headset attributes converge and hopefully crypto mining stops killing chip prices!
Totally agree. I have no reason to "upgrade" my G2 to something expensive and lacking in some way. I might be tempted to go for the Varjo, even with the fov, but not when I would still need base stations. I move from my desk (flight sim), to my cockpit (racing sim), to standing (active VR games) and am not going to get a headset that requires base station placement. Btw, how can the Varjo sell without a base station? Don't you need at least one for even headset tracking? It's not VR without headset tracking, is it? At any rate, no way I'm investing that kind of money for a partial solution, especially not when being in my $600 G2 is plenty immersive enough.
thatl literally be the 12kx if what they said is true
I went with the pimax. I’ve only had it for a few weeks and still waiting for the base stations. It took me a long time to get the IPD dialled in. I actually had to modify the thick face foam by adding padding to move the screen a bit further from my eyes to make it work for me. Now I love it. The immersion of the huge fov is amazing. I’m hoping in a year or two I will be able to upgrade to the 12KQ and get the best of both worlds. Cheers.
Would you kindly make a through the lense video of it in msfs2020. Also how is the clarity? Is it at all blurry in the pimax. I'm leaning more toward the aero due to clarity but I'm wondering if he if the difference is somewhat negligible? It's really hard. I only wish I could try them out for myself to see which one I prefer pre purchase. It's so tricky.
I agree with you I tried getting used to the Periscope view of the G2 but then when I got my pimax I'm never going back and I love it
The next 10 years is going to be amazing when both FOV, sharpness, lightness, comfort and good speakers with mic at a decent price will be the new normal. Only problem is, will I be able to buy a GPU by then?
You won't need a gpu. It will stream directly to your headset.
@@laartwork Maybe you wont need a headset. It will stream directly into brain. Mind = Blown.
Bankrupt
@@laartwork Where is the rendering of the scenes at 90+ fps going to come from if there is no GPU in the pipeline?
If the analogy goes in the same direction as all PC hardware or our smartphones, price is never gonna decrease. Prepare your wallet gents, I dont think you will have High resolution AMOLED large FOV headset for 200$.
Which runs on a laptop, of course.
I really like the audio on my G2. The audio quality is high enough that I don't feel like I prefer headphones. My ideal headset would be the field of view of the 8KX, the image quality of the Aero, and the audio of the G2.
Not asking for much then?!
@@johncrichton4341 For now, yes, haha. But we're already halfway there! The innovation and development in VR is going so fast, I have no doubt there will be a headset with these specs within a couple of years.
@Richard WAGNER Oh absolutely, I have an older pair of wireless Sennheiser headphones which I love, so I wouldn't really mind if my future VR headset doesn't have integrated audio at all.
that ideal headset is literally the 12kx if what they advertised is true lol
If both hmd's were same price, i'd go for aero, as like Steve in the vid, clarity just shades fov in importance for me. But aero is (with tax) double cost of 8kx. So I choose 8kx.
I think I’m going with the Pimax 8K X because I’m planning to trade it in for the 12K which has planned display specs even better than the Aero but it will come with the huge Pimax FOV. The Pimax 12K will have the similar dual lens technology as the Aero with the 2 types of lenses and 2 separate displays, 1 in the sweet spot and another display for the periphery.
I can't wait to try one out myself 😉
Just wait until the Pimax 12K comes out - a year goes by pretty fast! Maybe by then, the Varjo will have a wider field of view? After that, it might all come down to which headset is priced more aggressively! We consumers win either way!
Edit: I'm going to go out on a limb and say Pimax WILL have the 12K out by the end of December 2022! I don't think they'd implement that 100% trade-in offer on the 8KX 'now' if they didn't think they'd meet that deadline.
So place your bets! Do you think Pimax will beat the deadline for the 12K -- or no. I say they WILL (and I'll check back here next year)! ;-)
Let's hope it is only a year away ;)
I won't believe 12K is real until they show working unit to everyone. Hopefully on CES in Jan as they promised. Fingers crossed 🤞
how would varjo have a wider fov?even then i doubt they go to pimax extent of what 180 fov.
Rather, count 2 years
sitting around waiting for the next best thing insures that you will be sitting around waiting for the next best thing forever.
Situational awareness is already vastly improved by VR, so for me, the clarity to improve aircraft identification in IL-2 is the clincher.
This about confirms what I had thought. The PIMAX 8KX is best for gaming where FOV is good to have or necessary. Where as the Varjo Aero is best for working in VR or viewing models in VR, where clarity over FOV is far more necessary.
I want to get both, each for their individual plus. But intend to get the Varjo Aero first, for I wan it for VR 3D sculpting and viewing of models. I don't do much VR gaming, so the PIMAX 8KX is no0t near as important for me to have.
The next step for PIMAX is the yet to be out 12K. But that is still a long way away before anyone gets to even try it. Though I feel, by the time I can afford a new headset, after getting the Varjo Aero, the PIMAX 12K might be available.
Will have to see by then.
Just wait for the PiMax 12k - best of both worlds, apparently... and probably less expensive than anything Varjo is selling!
Inside out tracking ala Reverb G2 ... is also essential. I simply wouldn't entertain a headset that needed base stations. I love the idea of the perfect FOV and clarity - we all want that, but no graphics card currently out these could handle it with the high settings we all want to enable in MSFS. In other words we need another leap in graphics card power before we can even think about this. What amazes me more is that given the high price points of both items, that neither has the full suite of features we would like as consumers. For the money the Reverb G2 wins hands down, I don't see enough of an advantage in either headset yet to justify a 400% increase in price.
Year ago still agree with you on 110%
the fov of 100 and 74 vertical is rough and stings when you have to pay 2400 euros,id get the 8kx everytime and wait for the 12kx and deduct the 8kx price.
Yep ! Really crap FOV on the aero, especially at that price
Since i got my first Pimax a few years back, i always wonder how can people go back to those low FOV googles. For me a lower FOV after using the pimax for so long, is just bloody awful and makes me squeeze right away. So wide FOV is Prio1 for me for new VR Headsets. Just ordered my 8KX to upgrade my older Pimax.
Agree completely!
Brilliant video !!! Smashing review 👌 I totally agree with your findings, however I'm in the other camp for pimax 8kx. Largely due DCS and IL 2 and with that being said I believe that the obvious next leap forward in vr is a combination of both. At the moment there is nothing out there that covers all the things that we want. If only pimax delivers the 12kx we will have the best of both worlds.
Cheers mate
Cheers Robin much appreciated 😊👍
Thanks for the comparison. I also believe clarity trumps everything.
One thing I feel though is the biggest caveat with both of these headsets is the system you'll need to run them. This is harder to test, I understand. There's not enough info out there to make an informed decision. I still feel anything less than a 3090 and you are taking a risk that these will not work very well and will not perform at their best. That makes buying either a huge waste of money if you cannot get them to perform.
That is true. However if you have something like a G2 or run an Index with supersampling, you may already have the power to run the aero. This very channel has already shown that the aero is actually slightly easier to run than the G2, both at 100% resolution.
@@808jonnysmithI do have a G2 so I'd hope so too but at the insanely high price tag of the Aero I'd need to know 200% for sure before pulling the trigger
@@jamiesalmonsculpture8599 Wise decision. But of course you could always sell it if it doesn't do what you hoped. I'm taking the chance so far with my pre-order.
@@808jonnysmith best of luck and let us know how you get on!
I see what you mean however, as mentioned in the video, the Aero performs WAY better than the 8KX with a much clearer display, you'd be able to run it ok with a 3070, but yes, the best headsets need the best hardware.
I returned the pimax as it was a total pile.. I received my Varjo Aero and couldn't be happier
I will take the clarity and auto ipd and that nice head support over the integrated audio. i will implement my own audio solutions. prob going to buy in april along with a new pc build.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get VR at this rate, I hate compromise’s when spending a chunk of money.
The Aero not having a built in mic is inexcusable.
Those mics are brilliant, highly recommend ^^
For me I thought it was FOV but I have not yet been able to dial the 8KX in to where I can use it more than an hour. And really after an hour my eyes feel so damn crossed that I have to wait a day to try it again. But I have found that clarity is what I really want. I fly mostly GA so being able to read all the gauges/screens/switches is most important to me.
I was disappointed with the no integrated audio solution for the Aero and it caused me to wait like 3 weeks before I finally did decide to order the Aero. I am going to hang on to my 8KX for now and see what comes about with Pimax’s next gen headset as they have said we will be able to apply the price of the 8KX towards it.
Now Varjo needs to step up and either figure out an add on audio/mic solution and new head strap that tilts like the G2, or they need to put those features in their next gen headset.
I can’t wait to get the Aero! I really hope they begin shipping by the end of the month!
Hi. I just got an 8KX and was having the same problem with eye strain. I ended up adding some padding underneath the thick face foam to bring the screen slightly further away from my eyes and then spent several hours adjusting the ipd and vertical offsets in piitool. It’s a huge improvement, almost perfect. I’m ordering the studio-form counter weights to see if that helps. Good luck!
@@claybomb1064 I just got my studio-form counter weight and top strap, it makes the pimax feel more balanced.
Wait...you can bring DCS aircraft into MSFS?? The weapons & weapon FX wouldn't work though right?
Thank you for the video👍 as always a good one.
Take care buddy
Thanks Uwe. I can't believe the weekend is over so soon! Have a great week and don't work too hard!!
I'm close to buying the Pimax 8kx primarily for sim racing, the only thing thar holds me back is everyone says its a bit of a pig to get setup? Does it play nicely with Steam vr in your opinion?
I would like a Varjo Aero with inside out tracking :) Also availability in Japan! I'm actually very curious about the Arpara headset!
Have you tried it with 4090? Was set up really difficult? Is there any website with clean instruction how to make it work flawlessly?
I pre ordered my G2 because HP were offering a good discount on the future price. I would probably probably go for the Varjo if they did the same. They are not doing so and are saying that they will deliver in 3 to 4 months. Why would you pay £2000 for something you won’t see for such a long time?
They are not taking the money until your unit is ready for shipping. So your not paying for nothing up front.
The auto ipd adjustment would be great for showing new people to VR. Sounds like I will stick with my old Pimax 4K until the aero gets a wider fov
People who went Pixmax road will never know what it means to wear lightweight super well balanced headset with superior mini LED panels and aspherical lenses. Too bad... but you get exactly what you paid for. Plus with Varjo you become part of pro experience with high end technology used in military and airspace from reputable research company. With Pixmax you stay in wonderland just dreaming you made right choice.
Pimax is just FOV FOV FOV.....it´s really cool....but overall is NOT!
Okay, you said it... Your preference is the clarity of the Varjo... If you were to put an fov number on the Varjo, where would it be percentage-wise to Pimax? If Pimax is at 150, would you say Varjo is at 100? Or less/more than 100? How much more or less fov than the g2, oculus 2?
I think you are going to love the Aero, your flying preference is similar to mine and I much prefer the clarity over fov.
Question - If you are using a VR set, then any physical controls these "MIP" set ups to replicate the actual cockpit would be a waste no? I am thinking you are seeing the cockpit controls via the VR and using a mouse to click stuff right? - I am FULLY ignorant since I have yet to get a PC and HOTAS and all that stuff yet. Hell, I have never done any PC games except once back in like the 90s. BUT it seem if you buy a good VR you wont need a monitor OR any physical cockpit stuff. Asking since i am trying to wrap my head around what I actually need to make DCS world a good experience. As of right now, it looks like about 5k is needed to start.
I have problem reading the taxi sign when taxing on the taxi line with the 8Kx. Have you tried reading the taxi sign with the Varjo aero, this could be a good comparison factor.
Yes, no problem.
Absolute clarity for me. I’m going to order it. Should work nicely with my 3090.
Any chance you can quantify the FOV Vs Quality? I.e. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much better is the quality on the Varjo and how much better is the FOV on the Pimax? I don’t mean technical stats, I’m mean use perception?
I'm trying to find the best headset with the least "boxed in" feeling... I.E. you glace to sides and see black corners, I'm trying to minimize that as much as possible to give me more room to look around in VR with my eyes rather then keeping eyes straight and turning head...
I'm not familiar with terms, but is that what you mean when say wide FOV here? Does the pimax do that better?
I'm looking at the Varjo aero or pimax 8kx currently, waiting for reviews of crystal lol
The 8kx clarity can always improve with better gpus/ running at higher ppd, especially with sharpening added with the free fsr mod and software is optimized more and more.. the aero is never going to get a bigger fov... the 8kx clarity is more than excellent enough for 99% of applications and really only second to the aero which is still great.. fov is where the edge really is when the 8kx clarity is good enough.. aero is king of clarity/8kx is king of immersion.. having both until the 12k comes out is the best solution so you have a choice between max clarity (aero but forgoe realistic fov) or max immersion (still with excellent enough clarity) with 8kx.. when the 12k comes out I'll get it at just over only $1000 (after my 8kx purchase price discount) and if I sell the aero then I'll basically get the 12k (which is promised at least to be the best of both the aero and 8kx combined and much more) essentially for free or even make a profit depending on what the aero sells for.. if you don't yet have either aero or 8kx yet, the 8kx is much more bang for your buck for what you get and the smarter choice to get especially with that price being discounted when the 12k comes out..as a simmer- especially combat flight simmer.. wider, more realistic fov is important for better situational awareness, better speed perception.. it's just less realistic and immersion breaking to fly looking through a limited binocular fov as that is not real to life.. older but still relevant video as to why fov matters and makes a difference- especially in sims th-cam.com/video/6PwLVEcNydQ/w-d-xo.html
''aero is king of clarity/8kx is king of immersion'' .. I respectfully disagree with that, you don't need a massive fov to feel immersed, for the first time ever, I had a feeling a true presence in the Aero that I have not experienced with any other headset, simply because everything is so clear. Your brain quickly adjusted to the FOV (keeping in mind many pilots wear helmets), but you never adjust to a blurrier image. However, none of this matter as you've now got the best of both worlds! ;)
@@VRFlightSimGuy I'll wait to see how I feel about that with my aero when I get it but you can't argue against the fact the 8kx fov is closer to real human eye fov which we're used to in real life therefore more realistic compared to the narrower fov of the aero which is not realistic..I also don't find the 8kx blurry at all (other than peripheral edges but where that starts is still larger than aero fov due to its large sweet spot and rendering above 100% resolution increasing the ppd.. in fact with fsr sharpening added it is tack sharp.. I've mentioned about these 2 factors to you before (rendering as much as you can above 100% steam vr resolution, setting pitool render as high as you can and adding sharpening with the free fsr mod) but I don't think you have tried yet but make a SIGNIFICANT difference in clarity.. please try these 3 things with the 8kx and get back to me then.. tack sharp clarity AND up to 200° fov..I don't think you should compare clarity and overall experience till you've tried these things with the 8kx as it's night and day.. these are importent tips you and the community need to know and experience and make a BIG difference- at least with compatible sims and games.. fsr definitely works with dcs, il-2, xplane11 and b maybe aerofly.. not msfs20 (yet)..fsr also gives a fps boost but I recommend setting render to 1 in the fsr .cfg file (and not change fps as that may degrade the image) but set sharpening around 0.8-1 to see a significant increase in clarity in the 8kx
@@justinspirational The best and most honest truthful comments I have come across to date. Thanks for sharing your experience. I have neither headsets yet and cannot quite justify the 2k euro plus almost 400 euro of taxes on top for the aero despite how amazing it looks. I'm think the 8kx wont be massively less clarity and with that for for realism it might be the smarter choice for the moment. You make a good argument and I frankly think you have thought through all aspect with be best conclusion to date. Well done.
@@gregprouse1173 thanks.. I've had and used the 8kx for some time now and have taken the time to really dial it in and when the time is taken it's kind of an unparalleled experience that no other hmd comes close to in terms of fov combined with amazing enough clarity combined.. it's the better deal especially when you will get that money off the 12k in the not too distant future so it's an even better investment in the long run as the 12k, if it lives up to its promises will make the aero and 8kx obsolete and be the best of both and more, yet still have a highly satisfying, ahead of its time time overall experience with the 8kx in the interim for only a year or so until the 12k comes out.. that said I will be getting the Aero next so I have the choice whilst I wait for the 12k.. but if only having 1, I'd definitely choose the 8kx.. I'll see though how I feel after trying my aero for myself but know I'll miss that fov and built in audio options and more the 8kx offers the aero doesn't
@@justinspirational I totally agree on all points. I do like the Aero but I just cannot justify the price tag of 2400 including taxes at the moment despite being able to afford it....just seems a bit steep. Whereas the 8kx is literally 50% cheaper. Would love to have a chat with you on wassup about this for a few mins if you that is ok with you as have a few more deeper questions on the VR arena?
I finally got an answer from PiMax regarding additional VAT in the UK. Not entirely sure I believe it but sounds promising, so I'll post it here for those thinking of buying the 8KX (I've decided to delay and bought another LG48C1 to update my LG48CX which has moved to my XBox Series X). :
"Hi colin,
Sorry for keeping you waiting,this is summer.
As the last two days we are on weekends ,thus we can not reply you in time.
About this issue,if you are in UK and you paid the price at the currency of Eur,this price will be tax-inclusive.That is to say,you don't need to pay VAT and Duty,Pimax will be responseible for it if the parcel is shipped from China.
Thus if you are interested in our headset,you can place the order now.
Please free to let us know if have further questions.
Best Regards,
Summer.
"
Thanks man, this is what I wanted to see
Steve (sorry if you've been asked this before), are you buying the varjo aero?
Haven't tried either but i would always go for resolution first
Is the move from Quest 2 to Pimax 8KX a big improvement both in MSFS and DCS?
This is like choosing between a huge projector screen or a big, but not big enough TV for your home cinema. Its difficult.
great video thank you. I have been fighting internally on what to do. I am one of those people who likes to use wireless headset as in SIMs like DCS and MP you are switching all the time and its a pain to have to change audio settings in things like SRS, Discord etc every time you go in and out of VR. When we go to debrief in Tacview I can just pull my VR headset off and not touch Audio. I may wait and see what CES shows for the 12k as I am spoiled with FOV that I have been using since the 5k plus came out. I own 5k +, 8k + and 8k X
@vrflightsimguy - any chance of a Varjo Aero virtual desktop review? so if your flying MSFS you can swap between say VPILOT etc without taking off your VR headset?
Great suggestion thanks :)
My decision between the two VR headsets was made, however there is another decision to worry about: Hawk T1 or DC's tomcat F14? Which one is better?
F16 for fov.
I got both the Varjo Aero and Pimax 8KX. My clear number one is Varjo. I fully agree with SIM Guys review, wrt FOV of Pimax that wins, but I'd like to add that the PiTool software coming with the Pimax was a pain to get working. With Pimax I often always had some problem with something, base station registration, PiTool updates messing everything up. Integration with steam VR, etc. Varjo software is way ahead of the amateur-like Pimax software and support.
I agree, Pimax 8KX problem is PiTool. There are always problems when connection and starting games up. I have to spend 10-30min just to start playing. Unlike my Index, that just works.
Considering getting Aero instead of the 8KX. Clarity is important, and I would say that dials in MSFS are that readable in 8KX
G’day mate. Great videos, really enjoying them. On the fence about getting a Pimax but first a question.
The VARJO XR-3 headset has the ability to have a ‘custom mapped’ real world partial view and the rest a VR view.
Is there any consumer headset that will do real mixed reality like the XR-3 (not to the same extraordinary level of course)
The reason for the question is that I’m dead keen on VR for my flight sims, BUT, I have a fair few control panels, gauges, radio etc etc. I want to see my panels and the rest in VR.
See the XR-3 video on the VARJO site if I haven’t described what I’m after.
Cheers & keep the videos coming. 🛫🛩🛬
The Quest 3 will have this feature, dont know if it will work for apps not designed for it natively.
I would choose 8KX over Varjo even if the price was the opposite. 4K native resolution with massive sweetspot is more than enough. The real gamechanger is the FOV. I mean, do you want to observe the virtual world from behind the window/binoculars, or do you want to step into the virtual world? The fact is that for consumers, only Pimax offers virtual reality.
I think reverb g2. Price, image quality, inside track
Have you bought the Sim Skunk Works Lockheed TF-104 Starfighter yet Steve? I am holding off at the moment to see if they will improve the legacy sounds. x
Also the Indiafoxteco F-35 isnt that far off either I bet you have been testing that for them lol
Hi Artful, I decided against this one, too many aircraft to fly at the moment! ;)
Okay I feel like this is the comparison we are receiving, okay guys which would you like most, do you prefer to breathe in or do you prefer to breathe out? You can only choose one.
So then... Which is it? ;)
@@VRFlightSimGuy Both, and only both. When that becomes a thing, then I'm all in!
I turned down my resolution in DCS to 50% and the quality with my Reverb G2 went way Up. FPS was always over 45 at the Mariana Islands. Something has changed when they added that resolution option maybe with the sharpness? I had no Jagged edges with shadows. Anyways, I would like it if you could send me a pair of those to borrow for a couple weeks. Oh man, what about renting them?
I had the Pimax 8KX and found I couldn't wear it for more than 15 minutes without feeling cross eyed. I spent hours watching tutorials and adjusting everything but eventually gave up, sold it and went back to my G2 which doesn't cause me any eye strain. I've had a Varjo on order since day 1 but I just wish there was a way for people to try out these headsets before buying them. Every person is unique and so what works great for one might be unusable for another as I found with the Pimax. I've owned the original Oculus CV1, Vive Pro with lens mod and Index and the only one to cause me problems was the 8KX.
I had exactly the same experience years ago with a 5k+. Between that, the periphery distortion, and the wonky software that works half the time on a good day and I couldn't do it.
I had the same problem. Solved by adding padding to the thick face foam to move screen further from eyes. Now I love it.
Would love to hear the pimax vs Valve Index
If someone is willing to provide me with one, sure!
Are there brick and mortar stores that have a trial pair?
Did you try reducing your resolution by half of the headset? And seeing if the quality improved and double the fps?
You get tons of FPS back, but the display suffers too much for me.
I have used the Varjo XR3 and I own the Pimax 8KX. I think the value of the wide FOV really depends on the application. If you are flying a combat sim where you really need to move your head constantly to maintain situational awareness, or if you are doing formation flying and need to see your instruments and your lead at the same time, or if you are in a racing sim with cars to your side all moving at high speed, the wide FOV makes a huge difference. If you are pretty much alone in the sky and looking at one thing at a time, or playing a game like Beat Saber, then the wide FOV won't make that much difference.
As far as clarity, it really comes down to "how much of a perceived difference does it make?" The Varjo is obviously an improvement over the G2. But is it as big of a difference as going from the original Vive or Oculus CV1 to the G2? Or even from the original Vive to the Valve Index or Quest 2? Not in my opinion. Naturally, I want all the visual clarity I can get until it's truly "retina-level" resolution (Varjo advertises that, but it isn't, really). Until I have to make tradeoffs. :)
Anyway, yeah. The choice is interesting. Neither are perfect. Maybe in a year or two, we'll have the Pimax 12K QLED+, and the Varjo will have the Aero 2 with wide FOV and the choice will be even harder.
Thanks for your thoughts. I made a video about the differences here (in a brief 10 min video) th-cam.com/video/yTmZ8_-VSzA/w-d-xo.html
already my 3090 is struggling to put more than 45 FPS to my G2 in low level helo flight with decent setting. 😾
I have both and so far I like the Pimax better. The clarity is better but the Varjo runs like a slide show and I have 3090 rtx 5900x. The software is also very limited compared to the Pimax. The smoothing software is terrible. Also running sims on there is a hit or miss. DCS; I can’t get the cursor to show up in the headset; framerate is 40-60 fps. Project Cars 2; also runs slowly. MSFS runs like a slide show. Another issue is when I turn my heard, the sharpness/clarity gets fuzzy for a second; same issue I have with the Pimax. I feel like every software you have to fiddle with in order to get it to work properly. I would wait until the next generation of graphics cards come out or just another headset with same clarity but cheaper. No audio is bummer but what makes it annoying is that if you get some kind of headset, you have a bunch wires that gets tangled up on your head. Yep, so far I’m bummed.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Varjo will be supporting motion smoothing soon, hopefully that will help you.
Steve, very clear and descriptive analysis. Well done, Sir! (Excuse you now while I rob a bank so I can afford either of these headsets🤣)
haha thanks John, it's an expensive hobby this flight simming malarkey huh! Appreciate your support.
A pimax will take around a week to be delivered after purchase, I’m not willing to spend the extra money on hardware and then wait 3-4 months for the delivery. Don’t get me wrong it looks amazing from everything I’ve seen and I want one so badly but I just am not willing to wait that long lol
What are your AMD settings with the Reverb?
Tough question! Can someone tell me the difference in FOV of the Aero compared to my Valve Index pls?
This is the one I've been waiting for... Will leave another comment after watching.
If.... We can trust pimax to deliver the 12kq in the next 12 months, a head set that gives both of these and inside out tracking then the 8kx seems a better idea as you get that money back to move to the 12kq. I don't believe varjo will be making a new consumer wide fov headset in the next year and think it's really unlikely they will give you trade in money back either (although you could sell it second hand)
Hello
I am at a crossroads with VR with Microsoft flight simulator 2020. Asobo and Microsoft seem to have taken their foot off the gas with the VR development. They are even drawing criticism from one of the main Pimax engineers with him stating that they could fix the culling issue with two lines of code but have refused to even respond to his emails or to put the code in. So what does this mean to their full commitment to VR in my opinion not a lot. I myself have both the HP G2 and the Pimax 8Kx after sim update seven, even though the only real difference between our systems is the graphics card me having a 3080 I have found the balance that was has gone and I can no longer obtain a reasonable quality visual experience with smooth performance any more. Imagine the experience you would have if you only had a mid-range system with something like the Pimax?.
Hey Smurf, have you tried my latest setup video with the Open XR Dev tool? Mine is running very smooth indeed and I'm pretty certain that's not just because of the 3090. The 3080 is still a beast. The whole frostrum culling thing is deeply frustrating, as is the state of the sim at the moment I agree. Chin up mate, things will get better soon.
Well, I have to say, I’ve had my Aero for a little over one week now and I am a little disappointed. While yes it has great clarity, the barrel distortions and the movement are pretty bad and I start to feel hot and get motion sickness within five minutes of using the headset in non-Sim type games/apps. You can clearly see the floor bowing upward when you move your head up and then when you move your head down you could see it go downward lol. It just doesn’t feel like 90 Hz regarding the refresh rate, there’s something off regarding head movement. It’s definitely not the best headset for all-around VR use at least that was my experience and I know these experiences are subjective per person. Everything just breaks immersion especially the FOV being small. I came from the G2 and before that the index. I can really say I really miss the valve index, movement just felt so realistic! Oh well, I’m going to return it and give the 8KX a shot next.
The most advanced, and yet, still unfinished, HMD available.
Have had my new PiMax 8KX for about a month now and during that time it has worked for about a week.
The list of problems just gets longer and longer.
Can not work with steam - Steam just crashes as soon as it sees the Pimax. Tech support says reload steam, reload Pitool, Reload SteamVR. Try this setting and try that setting. But it still does not work.
It is even difficult to turn on! Sometime it conects straight away and other times not at all. Sometimes you get a green light (all good), sometime a purple light (reprojection is on) and sometime an orange light (no idea). There is no way to control this behaviour.
The Pimax was not designed to be used with steam. In fact I would say that the product is not complete and still being tested. And you can be a beta tester for only $2000.
A serious waste of time and money and I would be happy to get rid of mine for 75% of what it cost me.
Sad to say that it is just not ready for the average VR ready computer competent consumer.
To be honest if I could afford the varjo, I would also have the Pimax and probably all the others
The areo comes with headphones and a mic now
I'd agree with pretty much everything you say about the 8KX. Hoping the 12K will close the gap with the Varjo even if 12+ months later.
@vrflightsimguy. The link you have for the aero is unfortunately more expensive than their main website by about 400 pounds and moreso when you see the product is in euros compared to gbp in your link. Why is this and why do you promote the more expensive version may I kindly ask. Is there any difference or am I missing something.
Most likely import duty tax has been added also, Best by have a solid returns policy but it's up to you whichever place you go for.
How are you recording this and what settings please sir
OBS :)
@@VRFlightSimGuy settings? Im using g2 and its horrible in obs
@@VRFlightSimGuy could you make a video of settings you use in dcs and obs to get such great quality in your vids using vr headsets
@@Pulsezen Hi thanks, to be honest I doubt I will have time anytime soon sorry.
oh i just found this video! Thanks!
Great review! Subscribed!
Thankyou 🙏
What about the XTAL. Wide fov and the correct lenses
price is a point, but some time a ago there were rumors about a consumer version
I'd love to try one. Maybe I should contact them.
@@VRFlightSimGuy If they give you one, please can i use it for a few weeks/months/years, would really appriciate it, and great addition to my sim rig. Still ingured so can't at the moment. But when i can again the varjo and new grapics card will be expensive enough. Still hope they come with a consumer version. that fov with those lenses, Going to be blown away i think, now still have the cv1. was a preorder then, and would be awesom to put a preorder on xtal, but realistic wil be varjo
@@VRFlightSimGuy no reviewer here, could contact them, and prob i don't ever hear from them. Maybe i'm lucky with the ensurance for the accident i had. and will pay erverything, then a xtal shoud be in my reach. Hoping it will be a bit of future proof
My biggest problem with vr is I really hate all first person games and all multiplayer and social. So I don't see me ever getting any vr stuff.
I own both.
For me, this is a no-brainer, as I don't fly in other sims but the msfs. So for me it's gonna be the Aero all the way. But I'll sit tight for another year and see what's in the making.
And I hope that msfs won't focus TOO much on the Xbox, and let us VR simmers down. I feel like I can see the focus of the devs shifting towards the Xbox a bit too much for my liking tbh.
Very wise move buddy, the market is moving at a very fast pace right now. Take care.
The biggest can of worms has just been opened.
However, here’s another analogy.
Would you rather spend the rest of you life blinded in one eye, but still have crystal clear vision or have both eyes, but both very slightly hazy so your vision isn’t pin sharp.
That’s really the choice you’re making between the two.
Umm that's not the best analogy lol but thanks for your thoughts!
Refurbished 8kx $909
Varjo Aero $1980
I think I know what I'm grabbing for DCS, where FOV matters.
You didn't mention the cost difference!
I think I did pretty well to cover what I did in 10 minutes, these headset are both in the premium price bracket.
Trouble maintaining the runway centreline there. Refly.
ok...i think ot has to be the aero for me...in car racing it probably will not be so super important tonhave that wide fov
I prefer one that is compatible with Radeon 6000 series graphics cards
And Varjo Aero = how much $$$$?
Excellent! Order placed. :)
And thank you!! (including Melissa's review! :) )
Hey Douglas my or rather, OUR pleasure buddy, congratulations on your new Aero, I hope it will arrive soon for you.
You're correct about everything but it comes to what people care about or care about the most. For me personally is MSFS2020 in VR and the rest I don't care about at all, zero. I want only the best visuals, clarity and then comes down what MSFS2020 VR supports and is not big FOV so Pimax 8Kx is out of the picture ;-) and my only way forward will be my future Varjo Aero and nothing else that's on the market. I still hope something like the Aero and more affordable comes to market with G2 like audio & microphone without any base stations or comes in the box. Absolute clarity and only the absolute best what MSFS2020 VR supports is what I want and dream about. Can't wait to fly the new planes F-16, F-35, Kodiak ... Great video and it good to remind everyone about the current VR tech that's available that is always helpful.
Thanks buddy for your comments, I 100% agree with you. I really hope you can get your hands on one in the future. Take care!
It is a tough choice indeed
I have to agree. Take care :)
I'd pay a couple hundred extra bucks if they could get the Varjo to at least Index levels of FOV...
I betcha it feels better, simply because you can SEE the entire panel in crystal clear view.
@@VRFlightSimGuy That may be true, but it's still a compromise at a very high price point. As you said there is no headset right now that does both super clarity and wide fov. At this price point I'm just not willing to pay for that compromise. I'd frankly rather they bumped it up a couple hundred bucks and delivered both. Again, even if it just matched Index FOV I think it'd be a purchase for me, even at up to 300, maybe even 500 more
@@grifnizzle7197 you say that, but even at professional level there isn't one. So you are asking for something that does not exist for any money right now.
For those that have the $$$ to spend $1500 to $2000 on VR Headset and then $2000 on a video card this would be cool not counting the $1500 to $2000 on a decent PC. ( for an 11 year old game like DCS this is crazy ) I have an 8k Plus and a 3060TI and quite happy with it. Unfortunately the industry is based on demand and scalpers are killing the industry. Both for VR and Graphics cards. The future is grim
fov for me
Shame at that price the Varjo is missing some of the most basic things. No thank you.
Very nice video. You should have been a politician because you were careful to be very even handed so as not to offend anyone. Ha ha
lol thanks, although that's never my intention. I just say things how I see them. Cheers :)
@@VRFlightSimGuy And that's what we all appreciate about your content, enthusiastic, but always honest. Keep it up, your videos are fantastic.
@@markcarey5810 Thankyou Mark much appreciated!
Really scraping the bottom of the barrel with this Varjo eh. Almost as if someone has said you can keep it if you manage to create 80 promo videos for them
Don't be so damn rude, I say what I like on this channel and I'm not sponsored by anyone (even though companies do try). I showcase ALL my headsets on the channel all the time, however I also love the Aero and you will see it plenty more on the channel so... if you don't like it, sling your hook!
The headset for me is the one that comes with controllers and headphones lol
Quest 2?
@@VRFlightSimGuy I'm 4 days into my VR Journey. I went with the Reverb G2. I wish my GPU was stronger.. but it's been a good experience over all. I'm sure it would be better if I wasn't a moron and could tweak things properly.
@@equious8413 ha that did make me laugh, but in all seriousness you are not alone, it's somewhat of a black arts getting the right setup. Good luck, you made an excellent choice, the Reverb G2 is the best value headset out there for what it does, no question.
the varjo is way over priced for any normal person to buy £2000 pound out of a normal persons reach is out .VR as to come to come down .at the min its not worth it .they have to start bringing the prices down to get normal people to buy
But that's just it, this in an early adopter headset, it is no different from buying an RTX 3090. It is absolutely worth it for the people who can afford it, it's far beyond what current headsets offer. However, the market is such, that there is a headset for every budget, for example, the Quest 2 is fantastic BUT, Meta can sub the cost from the data they collect. Varjo are not interested in this business model as they work with the aerospace industry. It's actually a steal at that price.
All you have to tell me is "made in china", and I am out.
Aero doesn't support AMD.
I've heard neither does Pimax although I cannot be 100% on that.
@@VRFlightSimGuy I use the 8kx with AMD 6900xt and there have been no issues at all. I struggle with framerate on msfs but that is to be expected.
@@K11... Good to know ty!
@vrflightsimguy - XTAL 3 - pre orders in 28 days... just sayin :)