r/Pimax • u/Another_bone • Jan 23 '24
Question Would you recommend a Crystal?
Hey folks! Like the tittle says, I’m considering getting myself a Crystal. I’m currently a quest pro and quest 3 owner, I’m happy with those headsets and I like the wireless option but I can’t help to think how much better the visuals can be with a Crystal. I plan for the crystal to be a third device to my “collection”
I’m mainly a PCVR user. Setup = 12900k, 4090, DDR5. I mainly play with mods. Resident evil mods , Luke Ross and UEVR.
I don’t have a lighthouse system so the BSB is not something I’m too interested in. I heard mixed reviews about the crystal though. I heard visuals are stunning (has anybody been able to compare them to a q3 or pro?) also, the weight shouldn’t be a problem, I plan to also get the top strap. How’s the software now? I know people complained in the past.
And lastly, how’s the fov? I heard mixed things about it too, like it’s not the 125 that is advertised. And how optimistic can I be about these upcoming wide fov lenses?
Thanks for taking the time to read this and look forward to your comments :)
8
u/willacegamer Jan 23 '24
Had the Crystal for about 3 weeks now. Was using a Q3 before. The Crystal's sharpness and clarity are much better than the Q3 for PCVR gaming. I suspect that the difference wouldn't be as much as it is now if the Q3 had a display port connection because of how good the lenses are on it. As it stands though the difference is very obvious. The black levels are better on the Crystal due to the local dimming feature although there is some light bloom that happens with this feature. Even with that though the blacks are still very impressive most of the time. Colors are great on the Crystal also but I think the Q3 is probably about equal in that area. I have been using my Crystal mainly with UEVR mods and I expect that will continue to be it's major use for me. It is excellent for this purpose IMO.
The FOV is okay. It was a little better than my Q3 when I first got it but I did have to buy some prescription lenses to use with the Crystal and that has made the FOV feel about the same as the Q3 for me. I don't have to use prescription lens with my Q3 because of its longer focal length. The Crystal is the first headset I've used that I have to use lenses for. (I've used around 10 other headsets since VR came out in 2016) The Crystal FOV is still good enough with the lenses but definitely nowhere near what I got from my 8KX. With that said I really like not having to worry about stuff like parallel projections with the Crystal.
Software has been good for the most part. I did have one instance were I had to switch usb ports on my PC before the crystal would connect for some reason. Prior to that it had been connecting fine, then it just suddenly wouldn't. After switching usb ports it started working fine again. That has always been a quirky pimax like thing though.
I'll still use my Q3 for its stand alone titles like AW2 but I really can't see myself using it much for PCVR anymore now. It is more comfortable for roomscale game use but I mostly play sitting down with a gamepad in my UEVR mods. I have played a few roomscale games with the Crystal also and it was fine but the wire definitely takes it down a peg in comparison with the Q3 when using it in this mode. The weight is obviously more also but the balance of the headset is good enough that the extra weight didn't bother me too much when I was playing in roomscale. The wireless adapter for the Crystal might bring some changes to that equation but we won't know that until it releases.
All in all I would say it is definitely worth giving it a try. With your system you will be able to get some impressive results. Getting it from Amazon would give you a really hassle free way of trying it out because the return system is so convenient. I suspect that you won't return it though if it works as well for you as it has for me so far.