Experienced Pilot "Kelso" Converted To VR! - Pimax Crystal VR Headset

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[@grimreapers]

Kelso: Some of you asked how I manage the keyboard and some controls while in VR. Easy answer is I cheat. I've been using Voice Attack for several years now. It's a great program that will profile any aircraft or game. Use your voice to command complex, multi-part, and sequenced keyboard commands without the need for your keyboard. I highly recommend Bailey's Voice Attack, found in the DCS forum. Bailey offers many aircraft and specialty profiles.

[@kingjamez80]

Agree with your assessment. The Pimax Crystal is really the first VR headset that is actually use-able in modern flight simulators. Since you can glance at instruments without moving your head AND read them clearly you don't loose the immersion that being forced to move your head down induces. The Crystal is the first headset to have that seemingly simple capability. Even without eye tracking, it's high resolution combined with aspheric lenses allows this, combined with eye tracking and the experience gets even better. Yes, it's bulky but it is very much worth it.

[@aanon8342]

I was a bit disappointed with the small distortion sweetspot. Half the reviewers don't even mention it, including this reviewer. Despite this problem, I still think it is probably the best headset available for flight Sims. Anyone unsure about it can try it free of charge for themselves in many parts of the world thanks to Pimax. I would definitely try it first before buying as the distortion sweetspot may bother some people.

[@JaapGrolleman]

"This may look excessive but hey, everyone has hobbies" , I'm going to use that one at home

[@wildbillkelso2083]

It will work. I almost guarantee it! 😎

[@JaapGrolleman]

Gonna tell the wifey I really need a 10.000 carbon fibre racing bike@@wildbillkelso2083

[@wildbillkelso2083]

@@JaapGrolleman Yes, I see no problem. A bit of groveling can work wonders. My self respect be damned! I'll grovel and beg for what I want!

[@dukethejuke]

My wife has 6 cats, I ask her if she wants to compare receipts a to see who spends more a year on their hobbies. She has yet to compare.

[@JaapGrolleman]

fair enough! @@dukethejuke

[@vampolascott36]

Wow! Look at those SimPits! My 12 y/o self would have thought he died and went to heaven if he got that for Christmas in 1972.

[@patrickrk44]

Just wait until the 12KX. FOV of the 8KX with the fidelity of the crystal

[@djlangster123]

Welcome to the next dimension! Fantastic review! Your detailed insights into this VR headset's features and performance really impressed me. You've showcased its capabilities so well that it's going to be a challenge for me to resist giving it a try myself. Keep up the great work!

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you. I will try. 😀

[@dtz1000]

Why would you "resist" trying it when you can try it for free in many parts of the world? Pimax lets you do that.

[@timblack6422]

Outstanding! Glad you finally found what you needed!

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you Tim 😀

[@StekuVideo]

It worth be mentioning that Eye Tracking adds a lot in DCS (QuadViews implemented) but much less (about +10% FPS for 4090) in MSFS.

[@ericlawrence9729]

Great review, very professional and well done. Thank you for taking the time and care to pass on your experience and knowledge. Take care and God Bless.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you for your kind words Eric.

[@poolhallshark]

This mirrors my experiences exactly. I've had the Crystal for 1 month now. It is an absolutely great headset. Greetings from Norway.♥♥♥ Subbed btw.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Great to hear. Thank you,

[@poolhallshark]

I haven't been able to test the eye tracker yet though. It opens up for foveated rendering, so it should be great. Just thought I'd let you know. I have been using the headset exclusively for MSFS also. I have seen somewhere that the rest of the features in the headset will be available from Sept 30th.@@wildbillkelso2083

[@nickcutting4556]

Great video, I like that its short but has the relevent uptodate info. Pimax Crystal is my first VR headset, had it a month now, almost no issues at all, use it mainly for flying F16 in DCS, WOW what an experience, it is amazing! Glad you like it too. Im actually finding alot of things easier in VR DCS too...:)

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you Nick.

[@dtz1000]

Why do owners never mention the small distortion sweetspot? It was very off-putting when I tried it.

[@jorgeluissantos77]

2:38 !!! Absolutely

[@gr-skil]

Fantastic job Kelso, is it too soon to say "I told you so" about the whole VR thing??🤣 But seriously, it is great to get a proper pilot's and non VR user's perspective.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you Skil. I take back all those bad things I said about you. 😂

[@freemandiy]

Isn't it interesting how different the impression of a product can be by each individual? I returned my Crystal. Regards Jigsaw

[@dtz1000]

@@freemandiy Maybe the affiliate link has something to do with it. I didn't like it that much either when I tried it.

[@deceptiveanswer]

An honest review from a discerning customer. I've been on the fence between Varyo Aero & Pimax Crystal for a while now, size & weight is what's holding me back. Thanks.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you. 😀I was surprised that after several hours, the balance was so good, I didn't really notice the weight.

[@m0rph3u5.]

and the fact that you are still bound by the battery life even with a tethered experience and havining to change it frequently

[@wildbillkelso2083]

@@m0rph3u5. The longest I ran it continuously was 3 hours, I had to swap batteries just before I was done with our group mission. It retains enough energy for the hot-swap.

[@dtz1000]

It's not honest as he didn't mention the small distortion sweetspot. The affiliate link may explain why. Luckily, you don't have to rely on such reviews and can try it yourself for free in many parts of the world before deciding if it's for you.

[@m0rph3u5.]

02:10 what an epic statement! I think the Varjo Aero is very tempting even though it's a bit more expensive but the fact that Varoj's products are used by the Air Force tells a lot about their premium quality. I am just too skeptical about Pimax from their previous products and of course the quality control. Here is hoping that Valve and Somnium will surprise us

[@wildbillkelso2083]

You may not want to count Pimax out. For me, their hardware/software recipe is working fantastic.

[@jtkfox4717]

I have used Pimax 5k plus for over 3 years, the only problem I had with it was when the base station was to close to the headset it did not connect. Other than that I haven't got any problem with it. And now I have started to look at the Pimax Crystal. The good thing with Pimax is that they have a buy back program if you gonna buy a new headset, I think that they are the only one with that option.

[@Zen-lf7zr]

The shaking is not visible because your brain smooths your vision.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you for that bit of info Zen. 👍

[@zaphodt3405]

I'm sold even before I saw this review . This just solidifies my choice

[@wildbillkelso2083]

You won't be sorry.

[@mcelravys]

Ok but I sure don’t have a spare $1600 to spare for this.

[@FlurBurtz]

@Kelso Cool review. What is your plan for using or not using all the extra h/w controls you have set up in your simpit? Learn to feel for them or convert to mousing virtual controls? Or some combo of both?

[@wildbillkelso2083]

I will use them from time to time. Especially when friends/family wish to fly. As far as control cheats, take a look at the pinned comment at the top. This should help you decide. 👆

[@steviewonder9209]

Thank you, Kelso, excellent review. I was an early adopter of VR (HTC Vive, from many years back). It was really cool for some stuff, but then I tried it with DCS and MSFS, and... nah. The resolution wasn't there, I could barely read MFDs and HUD display, so I continued with headtracking solutions. I've always maintained my interest in VR, though, and the Pimax has definitely caught my eye, so to speak. I'm very close to pulling the trigger, but I still have reservations, mostly dealing with cockpit and other interactions that I can't get on my HOTAS. How do you deal with issuing keyboard commands, for instance? I guess I'd be okay with letting go of my stick to do some mouse interaction, but finding the keyboard keys without actually seeing the keyboard seems to be really difficult. What is your experience?

[@wildbillkelso2083]

I've used VoiceAttack as a crutch, because I no longer have the brain capacity to fly a long list of airframes. Using it to voice common things, binding it to different cockpit controls make it much easier.

[@wajdi1977]

The most uncomfortable headset ever… fortunately I returned it

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

I just can't wait to get that clarity in the Quest price range and decent fps on a 70 grade card with it. My 3070 is struggling HARD with the Quest 2 and the G2 already, but only in DCS, to be completely fair. If only the Quest 3 would come with eye tracking, we'd be a LOT closer to that pretty soon, but I guess we'll have to wait for Quest 4 to get that. It's great to see the progress though, it will eventually trickle down into the more affordable setups.

[@AceDotBoogie]

Waiting on the Pimax 12k

[@ivaniuk123]

It is unfortunate impossible to show what it looks like when playing VR. I can't wait to get the pimax crystal for sim flying.

[@abdulmismail]

@Kelso. Thanks for this review. I've been watching a lot of reviews on VR for flight sims recently and for many months, I had my heart set on the Varjo Aero but not believe the Pimax Crystal is the way to go. I currently have the Oculus Rift but having to move your head to read instruments is terrible. I'll keep it for my neices but I'm going to have to get the Crystal. One question though - which you didn't address in this short video. What about "pass-through". Does the Pimax Crystal have the facility because looking at the real world keyboard is an essential feature. Thanks in advance. Ab

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you Ab,. No the Crystal doesn't have pass through. I type by touch, so I guess it didn't come to mind.

[@deathsicon]

I've been in a pimax 8k for a year and a half, some of these reviews are starting to make me considering selling body parts to upgrade

[@wildbillkelso2083]

What could go wrong? 🤪 Make them take you to a classy hotel, with a clean bathtub to get that extra kidney. 😂

[@dtz1000]

They all have affiliate links. So that may explain it.

[@Mightymoose02]

Pimax Crystal looks great, but is a little expensive for me. I settled for the Pico 4 which also offer great clarity with it's Pancake lenses (although no eye-tracking). Got mine used for 200$. Turned me into a VR convert... Anyhow, stay away from anything with Fresnel lenses...

[@Gunfreak19]

I actually love my G2, but I'm sitting here waiting for ny crystal. Shipping as already been postponed 2 weeks. Which gives them 3 more days before I'll probably get a mail about another postponement.

[@dukethejuke]

This a whole different animal then the G2. I loved my G2 but the Crystal IS a step above. My buddy bought his the same time. He put his G2 on about two weeks after getting the Pimax and said he could never go back to G2

[@Heckenpenner1701]

The pimax crystal is the best headset out there at this time i tink but i am waiting for the pimax 12 K.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Well, it made me a VR convert.

[@m0rph3u5.]

I wouldn't say its the best, otherwise I would've got it ages ago. The Varjo Aero is currently discounted and I have been considering getting it but would wait for Valve & Somnium to announce theirs and hopefully by then Pimax might've done something about the battery issue

[@dtz1000]

Maybe for flight Sims it is the best but not for the average vr user.

[@m0rph3u5.]

@@dtz1000you are joking, right? .. "Average VR user" does not go with a "high end VR " that costs $1000+. I think you probably meant VR enthusiasts or even Developers. The average VR user would go for something like Quest or Pico (which by the way a lot of the flight sim community use). So I am still not sure what you are referring to

[@dtz1000]

@@m0rph3u5. I'm replying to the original poster. So maybe you should address your comment to him. Anyway, I meant to say if an average user could try all the headsets they wouldn't pick the Pimax Crystal as the best. It is a simmers headset and even then it has its problems.

[@lasselahti4056]

As I do not know shit about ANY vr stuff, just for interest? From where / trough what comes the picture to helmets (from computer) while they are being wireless. Wi-Fi? Or is it somekind of own separate "radiolink", like in some wireless hdmi stuff?

[@wildbillkelso2083]

That picture comes from their website. I don't understand the wireless configuration myself and I'm using the HDMI tether to the computer.

[@iankphone]

Very nice. How's it handle fogging up? My G2 fogs up and it's annoying.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you. I've had no fogging in the Crystal. The worst fogging was the index, but had some in the G2 as well.

[@barnold62]

RTX 4090 is a game changer for VR

[@seemooreb.9724]

love it quick and to the point

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

2:07 Meanwhile I only know the Rift CV1 and have the opposite expernce... yes 70FOV is small and I wish I could turn it up to around 90FOV or even more like I do flat in most VR softwear but honestly even though I have a DPI of like 73 at least with is 3 points more then the rift allows I never had an issue with blur or eyestrain. Beyond the limits of modern VR when holding text near your face or because of medicine side effects that any VR headset would make worse as my eyes will are less then an inch(3CM) away from the screen. I rearly move my head and look around/turn the camera instead and I'd rather have the screen door then a blurry mess like the Quest 2 has though the cystal does not. So yeah all those issue you had with the Roft CV1 are due to your biology not related to the product.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

I get the whole VR thing, but how do you work the controls? You cannot see your keyboard. Sure, the controls bound to your HOTAS will be accessible via muscle memory, but there's so many important keys that have to be accessed. And how do the hand controllers work? I have to hold each one with my hand and also work the stick and throttle? I get the head tracking movement to look around, but there's too many things I can't understand. How do you interact with the cockpit?

[@LegionNetworkCH]

I use mostly my mouse (and some of the keyboard) to complement the HOTAS in VR. As for the HOTAS, you can't see it. But you can feel it and memorize location of some of the keys. It's easier than it looks. That is, if you've learned to type without looking at your keyboard. Otherwise, it's probably a hard learning curve.

[@SkyraiderOpsOnline]

I have the Razer Tartarus V2 gaming keypad and I use VoiceAttack where you can manipulate any key with the sound of your voice.

[@m0rph3u5.]

If have a Virpil setup with lots of buttons that I haven't even assigned yet. I use modifiers, which are a must if you don't want to rely on keyboard. With VR, I use the headset instead of the mouse to click buttons.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

I use the mouse. I'm still new to using VR for any period of time, so I'm on the uphill part of the learning curve. ALSO, please take a look at the pinned message at the top. It works wonders.

[@freemandiy]

Main controls via hardware like gear handle or flaps but 90% is mouse and clicking on cockpit.

[@canconservative8976]

Great review... I'm still holding back because I don't want a headset that seals out everything. I would prefer just a set of sunglasses type VR, I don't care if I can see my desk with peripheral out the sides... you can turn the lights down in the room.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Thank you for the compliment. I like the sunglasses VR concept.

[@martinmccloskey4206]

Comfort is crap out of the box but great once I got 15mm thicker front foam and apache soft foam strap £20

[@metiora2851]

I may be late to the comments but what holds me back from VR the most would be that I wear glasses and I have no plans of using lenses just for playing VR, how do the headset fit over glasses or would I have to get 3rd party lenses for the headset with my glasses prescription?

[@wildbillkelso2083]

I wear readers under the Pimax hood. They work fine and I'm on the fence whether I'll buy inserts for this one. I'm thinking no at this point.

[@metiora2851]

@wildbillkelso2083 Thanks! It's the worst when you can't try them on before buying them

[@Lakedistrictrider]

Have you flown with the Crystal in IL2?

[@wildbillkelso2083]

I have not . . . but you've given me a reminder that I must try it. Haven't flown IL2 in years.

[@Lakedistrictrider]

@@wildbillkelso2083 thanks, it would be very interesting to see how it performs in that sim

[@wildbillkelso2083]

@@Lakedistrictrider I will add that in my to-do list for a background b-roll in the next vid. Thank you for the idea.

[@Lakedistrictrider]

@@wildbillkelso2083 no worries, happy flying

[@SledgeHammer43]

Next time I get up your way I should overclock your CPU AND GPU.

[@jeffperley8979]

I’m getting weird performance issues with my Crystal in DCS. With the game window “in focus,” there is a persistent lag and FPS drops, making it unplayable. But when the game window is NOT in focus (alt+tab), there is no lag and FPS is smooth and steady. The only problem then is that I can’t control the plane! On the other hand, I’ve had success in MSFS because I can get good performance AND still control the plane with game window in the background. I’m sure it’s a set-up/settings issue, I just haven’t been able to figure it out yet. Any help would be appreciated. RTX3080, i7-12700, 32GB RAM

[@ralph_f16simulator]

Is the headset detachable?

[@NoSteponSnek69]

Tyvm Kelso

[@wildbillkelso2083]

You are welcome.

[@FierceFire14]

any info on the performance of the 3090 with the crystal?

[@wildbillkelso2083]

That'll be my next video. Probably next month

[@TheCrash1983]

so my wife is going to be very mad with me soon i think

[@wildbillkelso2083]

Blame it on me. She'll never find me. 🤣

[@Biyobi.]

What are the specs on your gaming rig? That's a lot of pixels to push around at full resolution at a high frame rate, even with a 4090.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

4080, Ryzen 9-3900x, 64gb of system ram.

[@racingsfun]

Weird no comparison to 8kx. 8kx with its significantly larger field of virw i wpuld think is better than the extra clarity

[@wildbillkelso2083]

I didn't have the 8k to compare to.

[@HeyitsSyed]

Hey cap I got a question, So I'm learning hornet, and I'm catching up with things i can take off go on the mission and even land successfully and refuel rearm but after that once i take off after refueling amd rearming the gears goes up but gets stuck EVERY DAMN TIME and then warning keeps beeping and then I'm stuck in the mid air cuz i can't land anymore cuz the gears are stuck, so what am i doing wrong here? Any suggestions?

[@wildbillkelso2083]

You are not getting the gear up fast enough. The gear should be up and locked prior to 275 knots. After liftoff, pull up at a steep angle to keep the speed down, or back off the throttle until the gear is stowed. You can resume afterburner if you want afterwards Good luck

[@HeyitsSyed]

Thanks much, I've just tried it and it worked, I love hornet but this issue was keep irritating me thank you so much

[@wildbillkelso2083]

@@HeyitsSyed You are welcome. 👍

[@5Andysalive]

The Reverb had a really amzing resolution but the fresnel rings are absolutely oboxious.I still have but rarely use it. Also the controller tracking isn't amazing. But it was a hell of a lot cheaper than this one. Good to see things moving in the right direction, one of these days there will be one that does everythign ok, including the price. Not only or even mainly doing Flight sims with it, the controller tracking is an important part too.

[@SJkopa]

Please also review Meta Quest 3.

[@wildbillkelso2083]

I don't have one to compare. Sorry,

[@nibbler2281]

I find the distorting of the image when turning your head too distracting with Pimax.

[@dtz1000]

I agree. But half the reviewers, including this one, don't even mention it.

[@karelmachala4835]

Pimax Crystal 1699 €, shipping czech 117 €, VAT 360 €, Total 2,161.45 € .👎

[@Jackson-1985]

How much does this cost?

[@coffinraider1]

1.5k - 1.6 usd

[@zahnatom]

1.599,00 usd

[@Jackson-1985]

@@zahnatom 💰

[@dtz1000]

Too much.

[@JSFGuy]

👉

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

2:43 That depends on alot of things like you can buy and own a perfectly good track car for less then that headset... And you must not be married or disabled or be a public figure or own a company aka you have not accountably then wwhich is fine but to the rest of us we need to explain our expenses for hobbies or other things.

[@djlangster123]

There are many more ways that one can afford to purchase items for one's hobbies. The ones you mentioned are rude and insulting. If you spent your time better, maybe even you could too, who knows?

[@mikeck4609]

$1600? Ugh