VARJO AERO vs PIMAX CRYSTAL - Which one is BEST? LET'S SETTLE THIS! MSFS full flight COMPARISON

The battle of the TITANS! Which one is right for YOU? Let's discuss...
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[@jaco523]

great video, Steve! I’m an 8kx user and am patiently waiting for the 12k. the fact that the crystal and 12k share many design concepts, this is very encouraging.

[@claybomb1064]

Same here. I might get the crystal while I wait though… the 12k could be awhile!

[@stevetb7777]

Same boat. I'm also a bit worried to use my 8KX... if it fails before the 12K trade-in program starts? Ya... Pimax created an unfair situation.

[@infiniteyep]

@@stevetb7777 Same here, but I paid too much for 8kx not to use it. I think if my 8KX fails before they launch 12K with trade in I'll give them an earful. They were supposed to launch that headset in 2022 after all.

[@stevetb7777]

@@infiniteyep I think giving them an earful will result in a partial credit and nothing more. This is why I'm going to be a stinker about this topic. We have to team up and be proactive and get them to address this now. Maybe you won't have a problem but no doubt many people WILL. Together we can win, lol.

[@hughmanwho]

Be sure you check out the Somnium VR1 too..

[@UkDave3856]

As an Aero owner, I want much more horizontal fov before I look at changing again. A very useful vid 👍

[@x32i77]

You mean vertical fov

[@UkDave3856]

@@x32i77 no, I mean horizontal. As Steve says in the vid, there’s plenty of vertical. I would like to see human eye horizontal fov instead of the scuba mask like view we have currently

[@x32i77]

@@UkDave3856 then wait for the 12k 🙂

[@kevinjackson9156]

Picked up a Stormforce i9-139000k RTX4090 machine using your discount the other day as they've also dropped the price a bit and it was delivered this afternoon, so many thanks. Can't wait to get it going so thanks for all your videos that convinced me to upgrade. Now I just need to upgrade my Q2 to maybe a Crystal?

[@nzbankboyinvr4713]

Thought a clear winner would emerge from this, but doesn’t seem to be the case! Both seem to be incredible headsets and both without their flaws. For me I think it’s more about not rushing into either and continuing to research and maybe see how your Crystal holds up over say 4-6months of use by ‘Future Steve’ (PS, can you please ask future Steve for the lotto numbers for me, so I can buy both headsets instead?). Lastly, a video of this length and editing would take a good chunk of your day, so I’d really like to thank Melissa and Colin for sharing you with the VR community - those two are very understanding! 👧🏼🐶🦴

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thanks mate, you are absolutely right, only time will tell now if this can live up to the abuse the Aero has. As for Melissa, she said ''it's my pleasure, at least it gives me some peace and quiet' lol

[@nzbankboyinvr4713]

@@VRFlightSimGuy yup, surprised that the Aero hasn’t taken out a DVPO on you….Good to know M&C know they are appreciated too!

[@MikeInExile]

6:30 It's not necessarily the tracking algorithm - it's most likely the fact that the tracking cameras are looking at a blank, plain white wall. Try hanging a picture or a poster on that wall and I think you'll find that your tracking issues will go away simply because the cameras will have something more substantial to lock onto. For best results, be sure the poster is _Flight Simulator_ related! ;-)

[@docslappy8946]

Great video as always😀. You mentioned doing some comparisons for us upgraders e.g G2 to Crystal. If you do, it would also be interesting to see how the Crystal performs on lower specs 3080ish. (I know🙄, not exactly low spec, just lower😀) I suspect that a Crystal upgrade will also need a GPU upgrade.

[@ThorNjord]

Yes please! Remember few of us sport a 40XX card. Even a 3090 benchmark would greatly help.

[@gregsummers99]

Great analysis. I'm new to VR. Old armchair pilot looking to get back into the game. Leaning toward the crystal. Never heard of aero before watching this video. So thank you for that. If I land on the crystal I will definitely use your link to preorder. You deserve the credit for an excellent comparative review.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thankyou Greg that really means a lot!

[@GT1GT]

I think another really important mention is you are running a TOP TOP TIER computer the best of the best home computers and for the common folk its hard to afford something like that. So if you have anything less then a 4090 GPU and something like the high end CPU you must think twice on what type or performance you will be getting and how much of higher resolution you will be able to achieve. You will not get the same results in frame rates and high visuals as this youtuber. There will definitely be a FPS difference and some visual qualities and you will not be able to use the Crystal at its full performance. So far as of May 5th/2023 as I can see no KZbinr has done a long serious review with anything less then a 4090. If anyone has seen any KZbinr with a 30 series or 20 series card doing a FPS and Visual review in MSFS or something simular please let me know because I think this is a really important mention before a purchase of a high end VR headset.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

I'll be testing the Crystal with a 4070 soon, which is similar to a 3080 in terms of performance :)

[@Killswitch1411]

Disco-VR you tube channel used a 3090 ti and a 3080.

[@Wyverex42]

Love your content! I'll be upgrading from my trusty old Index. I'm very interested in how the Crystal performs on mid-range hardware, e.g. a 3080, especially in DCS. Would be great if you could make a video on that as well!

[@spitfireinvasion]

3080 midrange? lol

[@Janninatore]

​@@spitfireinvasiontrue, for high end vr headset a 3080 is probably low end 😂

[@m0rph3u5.]

Lol we're in the same boat then. I also got the index on day 1, missed the train for HP reverb G2 and now researching the next HMD (which would probably require upgrading my 3080). The *Crystal/Aero/Beyond* comparison ATM reminds me of the *Vive/Rift* both had pros/cons until the *Index* got the best of the 2 worlds (lighthouse tracking + topnotch controllers). I will be waiting patiently for the *Deckard* which to decide between Deckard/Crystal

[@badger633]

What about foveated rendering? I believe both of them have it and assume it can have a big impact on frame rates. Thanks

[@khaledassaf6356]

Thanks for the comparison, Steve. Very informative. Looking forward to your videos in DCS and G2 comparison (as this is the headset I'm upgrading from)

[@Parkit26]

Great that your going to give us a set up guide. Im on the pre order Thank you

[@samgarlick9585]

I think it would be good to use these on a rig that most people have not a 4090 but maybe a 30 series as this will be where the majority of users sit thought ?

[@finndoessims3214]

I’m beta testing the crystal on an I9900 with a 3090. So far it seems to be not much more demanding than my 8kx.

[@AuthentiKit]

Excellent video Steve. I savoured every second of it. Such amazing tech for flight simmers. Hopefully it will help prod MSFS to put a bit more effort into VR.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thanks Phil, I initially wasn't intending to make this video so long, but I soon realised there's just so many factors to highlight with both of these headsets. For now, I'd say you are all good with the Aero. Take care :)

[@JohnVanderbeck]

On the audio, I'm quite puzzled by why people are quite puzzled about Varjo's audio choices lol. As a VATSIMer I actually prefer using my own audio solution. The sim audio comes out my main sound system speakers, which makes it sound more real, and then I use headphones with a mic for ATC.

[@GYGOtv]

Great Job as always Steve. I'm super interested to see if I have the same feelings you do once I try it. I kind of expected to have to fight the software and all that to maximize performance, so I'll at least be ready for the challenge when it comes. If you get a chance, I'd love to hear your experience in Elite Dangerous with the Local Dimming. You don't need to do a whole video on it... just reply how it looks if you are ever able to tear yourself away for FS2020 :) Keep up the great work on the series!

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thanks Mark :) That's a great suggestion, I've been meaning to test both Star wars squadrons and Elite Dangerous very soon. I'm not sure whether I'll make a video about it yet, but either way, I will be sure to let you know my experiences. Take care!

[@Tom--Ace]

Thanks for the roundup Steve! It matches what id expect - because they are the same resolution but the crystal is wider FOV, the aero is slightly better in absolute sharpness - thats what youre seeing in "far off distance" - thats where absolute resolution shows up. However, in nearer objects and overall, the other contributors to image quality (CA, colours, blacks, contrast, FOV, binocular overlap), and particularly binocular overlap (in the distance each eye is seeing almost the same image, so ultimate resolution of the headset and your better eye's visual acuity ultimately determine detail. On nearer objects, each eye is getting a different perspective so your brain has two sets of information about objects, one from each eye, in the binocular overlap area, contributing to a greater sense of detail. Since the crystal has a better binocular overlap than the aero, your brain ends up with more visual information to utilise for overlapped objects, which feels like greater clarity), contribute to a greater sense of detail. This makes sense and exactly what i expected. The rest of the information youve provided is extremely useful too, thankyou! For me the tricky bit is, im coming from a Varjo VR3, which although most of the time is just a less bright aero, when those focus displays ARE on, they are 70ppd and noticeably sharper than anything else out there for distance detail. I wish more games supported the focus displays, particularly microsoft flight sim 2020, as then it would be a no brainer. Alas, only really DCS works with it and it makes my next upgrade path tricky

[@MrRoxeus]

That was a nice, chill Friday flight! You helped me decide to preorder the Crystal.

[@neilsimmons9582]

I always really appreciate your reviews, thanks soo much for putting out the VR content. The Pimax Crystal looks very impressive and the headset doesn't look as gaudy which was a turn off for me. I'll probably stick with the Aero since it's kind of close in performance but it's good to have competition to keep moving the bar forward.

[@resset100]

How bad is the Fov of Aero? that is the only thing that stops me from pulling the trigger.

[@neilsimmons9582]

I went from a Valve Index to the Varjo Aero and at first it was quite noticeable, mainly the vertical field of view but after having for a year now it's pretty normal. Even in the beginning the difference in detail I could see from the Aero was just soo much better it felt worth the slight sacrifice in FOV@@resset100

[@drumdave5495]

Great comparison, I also like the cooling fan in the varjo. I sometimes wish it would come on straight away as it defogs my left lense.... Just the left for some reason lol. It's great to see competition from pimax to compete with the varjo at its lower price point. All good for pushing vr forward

[@kangjames2492]

It blows directly into my eyes, I don't like it.

[@chaseydog7956]

Aero can be had at a 15% discount until the end of May. Still more expensive than the Chrystal, particularly as I’d need to pick up a base station as well. On the plus side I could get the Aero fairly quickly while I’m guessing is I reserved a preorder for the Chrystal today it would be a couple of months, if not half a year before I get the Chrystal. Another plus for the Aero is the quality of the headset and the level of support Varjo provides. I’ve heard conflicting reports of Pimax’s quality and support

[@somerandomperson8282]

Crystal, not Chrystal.

[@martinhsl68hw]

Great stuff Steve - this is what we wanted - well navigated!

[@NowIsGold]

Great comparison Steve! I would love to personally experience the Crystal but for now I will stick to the AERO.

[@oliverbrock9364]

Does anyone know, from where the Crystal will be shipped to UK or EU? Important point as toll and VAT would add to the origional price. Does anyone know?

[@billschannel1116]

I've been surprised with vr that care always had to be taken with base station locations. I get why mounting in corners of the ceiling etc would be nicest. But with the right technology (not used today) you would think any fixed location could be used for triangulation. I'm sure it's a cost thing where the easier to engineer but more time consuming to mount wins out.

[@Gulf76]

Outstanding, very fair review! Thanks!

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thankyou so much 🙏

[@davedontmind]

As someone who needs glasses to see things clearly, can I wear my specs and still use the Crystal? I have no trouble wearing specs with my Vive or Quest, but can I do it with the Crystal or would I need prescription lenses?

[@talon1706]

I prefer the Aero's clarity over the fov. I have both and decided to keep the 8kx and see if the 12k ever gets produced for a trade in.

[@punkinkng]

Thank you for the video. A couple inaccuracies- you said that the Aero wins because base station tracking is more accurate. You can use either base stations or inside-out tracking on the Crystal so the Aero does not win this category. The biggest noticable difference between base station tracking and inside out tracking is that when in the cockpit and moving around, the internal sensor keeps keeps your view centered, whereas the base stations allow you to move your head outside of the cockpit and the cockpit stationary, so base stations feels much more realistic.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Until the steam vr face plate is here, this is accurate for those who will order the Crystal, since this is an addon. Thanks for watching!

[@intetx]

The G2 audio is noticeably better than the Crystals DMAS. Kinda weird to not notice that, but DMAS is clearly second best. Index / G2 have the same speakers.

[@Kam_MD11]

Great video Steve. - I got on the pre-order train last week and was told to expect 3 months before it's my turn.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

I hope you get it sooner!

[@gradocchio]

Great job as usual, hopefully you can do a comparison in IL-2, especially spotting at distance!

[@hanskrohn]

Thanks Steve! Enjoyable video, as always 😊 I will stick with my Aero for the time being, I think the difference between the two is not big enough. But the Crystal raises the bar another notch, so I‘m very curious what will be available in a year or two. In the meantime, my money will most likely go into a motion rig (now that MC has come)

[@msgreene7716]

Steve, would you recommend the Crystal for those that already own the Aero? I have a great VR setup, but even the Aero was a bit of a let down. For me, the chromatic aberration is terrible, and really hurts the clarity of the Aero. The crystal and 12K have me interested, and considering a switch. I also still feel Aero colors are a bit I think washed out and long range sight in MSFS is hazy or slightly foggy. Do you think the crystal worth the change from an Aero?

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Generally I'd say mo, but given the areas you have mentioned, you may well enjoy the Crystal a lot more.

[@briank3754]

I preordered the Crystal a few days again. But, with the Aero now $300 off I’m going to get that instead. Had my eye on the Aero for quite some time and I believe the user experience and build quality will be much better with the Aero. I tried a Pimax a couple years ago and was not impressed. The big turn off with the Aero not so much the cost of the Aero, but the cost of the Aero + tracking/controllers. Now at least I can get the Aero with base stations and controllers for well under $2500. Still not cheap, but based on the reviews I see I think it will be a worthy upgrade from the G2.

[@rbarlow]

Thanks for a great comparison. Could you show some through the lens views?

[@SiwertJonasson]

Can you wear glasses to the Primax Crystal?

[@lynjones5564]

I understand your choice concerning longevity. I feel the same way about my Reverb G2. I preordered it & waited months for it to arrive. Now, with my 4090, it’s excellent, still performing flawlessly. I won’t buy another headset unless all the features of the Crystal are included plus diopter adjustment is a must for me. Is the “sweet spot” a concern between the Aero & Crystal? Also does changing the lenses in the Crystal affect the prescription lenses? Thanks for the video.

[@tra757200]

Sounds like a lot of R&D and engineering went into this headset, which I imagine is what makes this headset cost so much. I can imagine that the display panels are the most expensive item in the bill of materials. With the loss of the Reverb, the sub $1k headset clarity disparity gap puts pressure on stepping up into these high end ones. I wonder how many years away from the RayBan with side blinders sized VR headset, with this sort of clarity, we are. If that hit the market at sub $500, I would think VR adaptation would skyrocket, which should keep downward pressure of pricing. All that said, I would be a gluten for punishment to continue using my Reverb G2 and not upgrading to the Crystal.

[@craigh1790]

The real question is, if you already have the Varjo Aero, is getting the Crystal worth it? Also, will the 12K be better than the Crystal and is the Crystal good enough to get while waiting for the 12K? I know, I know...first world problems.

[@kevinbrook7033]

Solid video Steve, the Crystal does seem pretty appealing. It would cost me around £900 less than the Aero for better visuals. I'm going to try and resist though, I need to make sensible decisions for my wallet in 2023.

[@vertron]

Get the crystal, it's next level

[@motionXP-6dof]

Hi, thanks for video, how do you record HMD view ? thanks

[@hidekinguyen1286]

Hi how is the crystal for movie watching. It must be amazing right and the first headset worth serious movie watching in? The closest one I've come to enjoying movies is the Pico 4, but Graaa... still screen door.

[@vancecollins4634]

JUST ORDERED with your link. Can’t wait.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thankyou so much 🙏

[@reboot5598]

Thanks mate! Ordered crystal canr wait!

[@employeeofthemonth1]

Yes G2 vs crystal please. Although im not going to upgrade prob because that battery thing sounds like it would really annoy me.

[@Nick-gr1rc]

flight sim guy, setup guide for 4090 would immensely be appreciated, thanks bro love your videos

[@richardPalmisano]

unfortuanally i had to return the aero becuase it did not work out with my glasses i had eye strain and blurry picture so hopefully the crystal will be better i already preordered in march and how much better is the fov compaired to the reverb g2

[@JimBob1937]

Were lens inserts not an option? Mine snap right in and don't have to worry about comfort with my glasses.

[@richardPalmisano]

@@JimBob1937 i had them and still eye strain

[@JimBob1937]

@@richardPalmisano , interesting. Only other thing I can think of is maybe the IPD was setting itself incorrectly. Well, either way, hopefully the Crystal works better for you.

[@richardPalmisano]

yeah thanks bro cant wait lol

[@automated8493]

Thanks for this video. Answered my questions exactly.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

My absolute pleasure :)

[@jasonknights9640]

Still waiting on a DC's review with crystal as that for me is my staple of gaming and whether the performance can be gained for PvP combat and what it looks like be interesting how the shimmering is as I can not get rid of it I mean it's only really noticeable on the ground at take off and distance but it is there. G2 gets 90fps I'm wondering mostly if I can lower the graphics a little and still get the same out the crystal but with nice resolution and bit better fov or weather I'm living in dream land 😂

[@dirty_mike]

The shimmering will not completely go away in DCS, regardless of headset. It is due to the current DCS engine, not the VR we are using.

[@poolhallshark]

Excellent video, Steve 🙂 TC !

[@HamVR]

Thanks for the comparison. Can I ask how long a Pimax crystal battery lasts? I've also heard the batteries are 'hot swappable' so does that mean your application/game will keep running while you swap the battery or does the PC detect a disconnect during swap? Cheers.

[@_zeranom]

thx Steve for this comparison. Very interesting. But I will stay on my aero, because first: I like the company and the guys in Helsinki, second, the crystal is too big and made by china ;)

[@brettgrieves]

Me too.. dont trust pimax at all. Chinese crap. Crap quality, poorly thought out. Display might be good but that doesn't make up for weight, software, comfort, need for battery and b's marketing from pimax

[@anastaciawhitehead6184]

I currently have the HP Reverb G2, so a comparison with that would be great to see.

[@justcommenting4981]

The dragon rising 😳

[@bigg1103]

How do you communicate on multiplayer if the Aero has no microphone

[@andyydna5330]

Thank you very much Steve!!!🎉🎉🎉

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Pleasure Andy, have a great weekend!

[@andyydna5330]

@@VRFlightSimGuy Thanks Steve, you too! Just a thought: Do you plan an Intel vs AMD Video? Very curios about the new 7000 x3d series :)

[@christopherauito7262]

It's probably already been noted, but the reason the crystal is going to function untethered is an incidental bonus. The processor requirements were such that in order to run everything else (i.e. eye tracking), it was also powerful enough to run the displays. There is no hardware added to "make it" wireless. This made me feel better about it.

[@snapdragon9300]

I'd be torn choosing between the cable pain of varjo over the bulky weight pain of pimax . Also how much more for controllers and bay stations for varjo?

[@Holret]

exactly the same for the Pimax if you were to go with the base station route. about 500$ from steam store. In essence putting them both at almost exactly the same price point.

[@SkyKing-Opa]

Colors are important. Thanx again Steve. Good work. 😊

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Cheers mate, have a fab weekend!

[@SkyKing-Opa]

@@VRFlightSimGuy You too my friend. Ride that putt putt!

[@Leaddinosaur]

How are these headsets with glasses?

[@aprobin1]

Is screen door a non-issue now? I ask because everyone said it was gone with the Reverb G2 but I could still see it with that headset in certain circumstances.

[@MrCrrispy]

What's the plane BTW? Nice, open view for flying in VR.

[@MikeInExile]

7:00 With respect to outside-in tracking - it isn't perfect! Outside-in tracking can definitely have some image 'jitter' associated with it. Most people don't seem to notice it, but it drives **me** nuts! The jitter isn't that noticeable or obvious while the headset is being used, but take the headset off and lay it down on a table or desk next to you, and the jitter becomes very obvious in the VR image mirrored to your monitor. Inside-out tracking doesn't seem to exhibit that behavior. Also with outside-in tracking, one has to be cognizant of mirrors and/or shiny object in the room which can definitely 'spoof' the tracking. (Don't ask me how I know that!) Given a choice between outside-in or inside-out tracking, for flight simming, I'll take inside-out tracking every time! Edit/update: I'm using a Pimax 8KX headset, and I solved the image 'jitter' issue by replacing the Lighthouse 2.0 base station that I was using with an older model Lighthouse 1.0 base station. The small amount of 'jitter' that was caused by the Lighthouse 2.0 doesn't seem to be a bother for a lot of people, but I'm getting ready to bring a DOF P6 motion rig online, and don't want to take a chance on the instability of the 8KX and Lighthouse 2.0 combination introducing instabilities (jitters) into the motion compensation of the P6 itself! So *my* recommendation for anyone using or considering a Pimax 8KX headset, is to use the older 1.0 Lighthouse and _not_ the new 2.0 version. Heck, you'll even save some money too! 🙂

[@cpunktspunkt748]

The subtle disadvantage of the crystal is that you still cannot buy it..but well anyways thanks for the comparison. Likely will try it against my aero asap..as the fov argument got me..and hurts a bit

[@ervmoore1111]

Another excellent video, Tks much!

[@ervmoore1111]

Just to add, have 62 hours with Aero and I have not tweaked in 20 odd hours - solid with no issues - happy camper!! 😅

[@gregthekeg820]

Hi Steve. After watching your H2 videos, I have finally pulled the trigger on the H3 with the SFU gearbox upgrade. I was just waiting to see how you got on with the SRS motion compensation software and having seen how good it is, I decided to go for it. I also got some other upgrades including the SRS Hurricane Wind, which is mainly for when I sim race, but I can imagine is pretty good in open cockpits. I already have a butt-kicker and the U-Shake-6, so I'll be using those in conjunction with everything else. I'm excited, but a little nervous about the build 🤔Once I'd placed my order I emailed them to let them know that the sale was down to your channel! Do you have any recommendations for a seat?

[@dirty_mike]

FYI, the vibration from the buttkicker is going to make motion compensation a nightmare for you :( I found it nearly impossible to stablize the witmotion sensor enough to prevent the vibration from throwing motion compensation out of whack. Works great without it, but I need that feedback.

[@gregthekeg820]

@@dirty_mike That's good to know. Thank you for the heads up!

[@SparkySven]

Ok, audio is the same as the G2 then it's a huge win. I need the Crystal 4 sure... still watching and did not leave for the supermarket yet Haha you make me come too late maybe lol

[@gizmo104drives7]

Wht the heck is local dimming!?!? Its metioned a lot but tmwhat does it do..how does it work?

[@Johnstage]

How do corrective lenses affect the comparative sharpness (especially periphery) considering the Crystal has a wider FOV? Would the Aero be better if you wear glasses?

[@MrLolof1]

Amazing this Crystal but I Want a Pimax 12k for a Big-Fov 👍🏻😇😇 Thank you very much for this vidéo 👍🏻👍🏻 Aplushhsss 😇👍🏻👍🏻

[@spuidley4415]

Do you have the lenses for the wider fov to test

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Negative

[@propfan3485]

great video.. in the varjo aero it is impossible to get your eyes nearer to the lenses. unfortunatly.. for people with eyes not far in front of their face this a dealbreaker because the FOV is nearly at 80 i guess. on the other hand the huge weight of pimax crystal of 1200 Gramm because of its battery..?? I will wait for the Varjo aero 2 !!!!

[@JohnVanderbeck]

I'm actually wondering -- does inside out tracking get "confused" if you have a motion chair? Wondering if it might be better to stick to an outside in setup like Bigscreen Beyond or Varjo Aero ifd using something like the Yaw2? Right now these are the three on my list (those two plus the Crystal) but just can't decide. The comfort of the BB is a huge draw, but I've also heard the Aero is very comfortable, but the Crystal has a much higher FOV but also doesn't look very comfortable. Why is there no PERFECT HMD lol

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

I have tons of videos showing the Crystal with my DOF Reality H2 👍

[@OperatorPuski]

If you had a wider FOV and a Reverb G2 like audio solution in the Varjo Aero I don’t think this would be a tough decision for flight simming to make. Maybe there will be an Aero 2 sometime soon? One can dream can’t we?

[@finndoessims3214]

Hmm. Wider FOV, G2 like audio…. You just described the Crystal. Although I’d like a wider FOV in it too .

[@remkovoets1175]

Thanks again for your great reviews! I don't know if its asked before, but can you wear glasses in this headset?

[@L_Emir_de_Passy]

Thanks for the review. How does tracking do with motion on ? Does oxr mc work?

[@theshazman]

Keeping my Aero. Never had a doubt but this video solidified my thoughts on the crystal. Thank you for your great analysis.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thanks Shaz :)

[@mike_33gt]

Why?

[@SparkySven]

I'm like 3... got to go to supermarket for weekend food before the weekend, I'll watch your video in great details once I'm back. I'm very curious how the Pimax Crystal compete with the top dog Varjo Aero at a much higher price point that is key not needing base stations and Varjo only works on Nvidia GPU's

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Cheers mate. Don't forget the beers for the weekend 🍻

[@alexsp7086]

Going to stick with my G2 😂 it’s not the headsets. It’s until they really optimise these flight sims for VR that I will take the jump. I want no stutters high fps everything max like on my flat screen.

[@odourboy]

Excellent video! I really enjoyed this. So... is there any reason for you to pick up your Pico 4 or is it going on the aubtion block?

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thankyou. I still love the Pico 4, especially for its super light, wireless capabilities with a great display. I'll still be featuring it in future videos

[@TheGreekbull]

Agree wireless standalone is a huge negative for the Crystal!!!

[@gaurlglmistrz]

Why would bloom get better over time? On another note endurance test would be nice! How long does it take to charge the battery?

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

They can improve their algorithms. Batt test planned soon. Thanks for watching :)

[@gaurlglmistrz]

@@VRFlightSimGuy Thanks!

[@DMan-ud6bt]

Thanks for the review! I have a basic question, since I'm still new to MSFS - how do you move about the cockpit while in VR?

[@reboot5598]

You can physically slide your chair over but best way is still use the various camera positions bound to my hat on the joy.

[@DMan-ud6bt]

@@reboot5598 Yeah, I guess I need to know which of the MANY options in the menu I actually need to map.

[@josvei4052]

Good, but let's see what is the best goggles when the nvidia 5090 could push 120fps os MSFS, for now I'm more than happy with my TrackIR 5 which is only $150 and it does the same as a VR Goggles on my Gaming Laptop with a 1660 at 1080p

[@PimaxVR]

That smug look on the video thumbnail though.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

More like trying to disguise the terrifying thought of dropping both headsets for the sake of a thumbnail ;)

[@dariosensi6078]

Excellent review, Steve! What about motion reprojection in Aero vs Crystal? (I particularly don’t like the XMR reprojection with my G2).

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

Thanks Dario. I talk about it during the video

[@dariosensi6078]

Now I noticed it. Varjo here still gets the lead. Thanks, Steve!

[@markm75]

@@VRFlightSimGuy I had a previous pimax headset (forget which) but they promised better motion smoothing and from i recall that never happened. Bummer on the issues in the beta right now with the pimax, i really love the motion smoothing of the aero at atm, 90% of the time anyway, at 45 fps

[@johnblaze3546]

Sir, great video, this is the one I was waiting for. Thanks for posting and explaining everything. I am currently an HP G2 fan, but I am at the point of upgrading, I was for a while looking towards the Areo, But now, with the Crystal coming out, I am looking at that my reason is, no damn base stations, itcomesewith an io big fan, and the G2 got it right. and the controllers. I am with you on the battery thing, I am not sure if you can order a backup batbatterif it can charge while you have it pluga ged into your into? But for now it looking ,llooseystal is in the lead. I can't can'tor your nextyourdeo great job. And do a DCS World video, and your input. I play more of that instead of MFS, which is a great game. Thank you.

[@delvallo9652]

Great video! May I ask what base station you are using with the Varjo Aero and how many do you use?

[@stevebobowski3507]

I own aero and use the valve base station 2.0. Aero also can use the 1.0 version.

[@delvallo9652]

@@stevebobowski3507 Thanks Steve, much appreciated!

[@markstone3481]

Is there more room in the Crystal for glasses?

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

I always forget to test this sorry, I'll check this asap

[@iankphone]

Color gamut is 100% NTSC. LMAO. Local dimming, how many zones? Can't be many in that size package w/o micro led.

[@mike_33gt]

It will be possible to get 12k minus the full price of Crystal right?

[@georgetazberik6834]

800, Pimax just announced the trade in program for Crystal which maxes out at 800 value. I'm personally probably gonna wait for the 12k.

[@mike_33gt]

@@georgetazberik6834 yeah I ordered Aero Varjo today. Most probably will upgrade to Aero 2 when it’s released. Or wait for 12k as well

[@bakzetary3145]

I appreciate your detailed comparison here. The fan in the Aero has always appealed to me since fogging can be an issue for me on some flights; especially in crazy/furball DCS content! Finally, I am also dubious of any Chinese company that is requesting a $30.00 pre-order fee with only "test" versions out there in the hands of select influencers. (With 30 years of industrial electronic automation experience: I want to see "finished product" and in quantity out in the field first; before I commit to any purchase.) I am happy to have the patience to just wait, LOL! (Time to go flying; cheers!)

[@strikkflypilot927]

Im pretty sure Varjo could more or less fix the red/blue shift, with the OpenXR toolkit it is all but completely fixed. In DCS the Varjo Aero is impressively clear so it is actually probable that the MSFS rendering looks better in the Crystal because of better render engine «match». For audio, the Aero earbud solution is completely lame, but in my personal rig I have installed a surround sound setup and for comms I additionally use an OpenComm by Shokz. The tracking with Lighthouse seem very much better imo. I just dont see my self exchanging my Aero for a Crystal…

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

For Aero owners, it makes no sense to change to the Crystal unless you want those better colours, FOV, audio, mic and wireless capabilities

[@strikkflypilot927]

@@VRFlightSimGuy agree, and color settings could be improved in driver, also the Aero should be able to do local dimming which would help in dark scenes…

[@turbohenk702]

​@@VRFlightSimGuy and better stereo overlap, less chromatic aberration, no edge distortion, no red shift, no motion blur. All reasons that I had to return my Aero for sadly enough.. this while the colors were good enough for me but those other subjects are way more important to me so are in my opinion more important reasons to upgrade.

[@tasmania9576]

Steve if you're playing 2-3 games with the Crystal and you've got it set up perfectly then it's ok. But woe betide you want to use the Crystal with different games then the headaches are inevitable. You have to adjust and optimize a lot, I didn't know anything else from the 8KX. I sometimes had to spend weeks adjusting the 8KX. Pimax urgently needs to improve its software experience. What I also have to criticize, both with the Varjo Aero and with the Crystal, is this pseudo online login requirement. For me, this is the absurdity of the century. There is an example on YT. where an American dude didn't show up in his Varjo Aero because Varjo's servers were down.

[@cheeeeezewizzz]

Pimax's login is a one time thing. No internet connection is ever required after the initial sign in. And you are comparing the setup process for an old product to a new product you don't own?

[@stevebobowski3507]

Love the fact aero didnt bake the audio solution into the headset because you can use any headphones you wish and believe me ..... there are headphones on the market that are far better sound than ANY vr headset currently offers.

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

The audio solution on the Crystal isn't baked on, you can remove it completely in a matter of seconds 👍 I'm well aware there are higher quality headphones on the market, I have a pair that cost over a grand which I use for recording bands.

[@stevebobowski3507]

@@VRFlightSimGuy recording engineer? Looks like we have alot in common. You do production, mix and master aswell?

[@swordfish72]

can you peek thru your nose bridge on Crystal? reason why I ask is that I still wanted to be able to flick switches and turn knobs on my devices.

[@mostwanted2000]

Thanks for the video. I believe the Aero is sharper on the horizon because actually the pixel density is higher as the FOV is smaller. Any chance you try out the 42PPD lenses when they arrive and compare them with Aero?

[@finndoessims3214]

This is nicely balanced perspective on the two. I think the only point I'd make is that the VR2 chip that provides standalone also controls Eye tracking and inside out tracking. In fact, here's a list of things the Crystal does that require the XR2 chip - 6DOF Headset Tracking and camera control (so you need no base stations) - Camera passthrough capability and real-time image stitching - Controller tracking - Finger tracking on the controllers - Audio equalizer capability - Firmware updates - Headset diagnostics that don’t require a pc - Automatic IPD adjustment - Panel color calibration and control - Some eye-tracking features - Wireless Integration and completely un-tethered PCVR capability Plus some future accessories require it. Plus the standalone mode. So since you need this chip to do all these things, and since you already have it in the headset, why wouldn't Pimax opt for a wireless and stand alone option? You need not use it if you don't want to. I think declaring the Aero a 'winner' in this category because it's PC wired only is a bit disingenuous. The fact that the Varjo is MISSING these options does not make it a winner. It just happens not to offer the things you don't want anyway. Although I think the Aero DOES offer pretty good eye tracking doesn't it? Anyhow, the fact that a headset like the crystal offers more features (and game controllers) for hundreds of dollars less than the Aero shouldn't be somehow made into a negative. You want only PC play, with no battery. I get that. But the other stuff you like in the crystal, like the deluxe sound and the inside out tracking would be a lot harder to achieve in a headset that didn't not have the XR2 chip. It's a bit silly to declare the Aero a winner in a category only because it doesn't DO that category. As well, for me, the Crystal has been completely plug and play since the last firmware update, as you noted it has been for you. So maybe it's time to stop beating that 'tricky to setup' horse. IF the Crystal starts screwing up again, you can always dig up that pony and whack it a few more times. It is kind of fun to see you stand with your feet firmly on both sides of the fence though! 🙂 Oh and you need to mention that people who hate inside out tracking can get a faceplate that enables it and steam. (Though in my mind, as a flight simmer, Steam is something better avoided.) Any, excellent and informative video once again, and thanks for taking the time to post it. Oh and by the way, didn't you have a video with you playing flight sim with only guitar in the background and no narration? I kind of liked that one, as I did a similar video on my tiny youtube channel. I thought you played quite well, and that sort of scenic soundscape makes for a nice change now and then.

[@dirty_mike]

The Reverb G2 does inside out tracking just fine without the need for a chip and subsequent tether to batteries that offer crappy play times and will surely degrade. I think having a mixed bag of a device is definitely a negative for the Crystal.

[@finndoessims3214]

@@dirty_mike I had heard that inside out tracking was not great on the G2. I have not found the battery issue to be a problem- but in an ideal world it wouldn’t draw power in PC mode. If it’s a deal breaker for you, that’s fair.

[@dirty_mike]

@@finndoessims3214 I never had an issue with it, but I was in a well lit room with plenty of stuff on the walls to assist with tracking. Can I ask what your longest play time has been so far on a single charge? I’ve watched a couple of your videos.

[@finndoessims3214]

@@dirty_mike I rarely play more than two hours at a stretch. Based on two sessions over two days I’d say the charge is good for about 4 hours. Swapping batteries isn’t hard except that the release buttons are really stiff. I don’t understand why the xr2 chip has to have specifically battery power. In an ideal world it would not. But so far, it’s not really an issue for me.

[@BoltRM]

I don't understand the reluctance to *_add_* wireless capability, cuz it doesn't have to be used if prefer wired resolution. Batteries required either way, tho would drain faster when wireless mode is on. I'm grateful for your videos & advice btw! 💪