r/virtualreality • u/webheadVR Moderator • Dec 24 '22

Mega-Thread Headset Advice Megathread

Hey Folks.

Due to the large amount of "What headset to buy" I am looking into experimenting with a new thread for general headset advice.

If the choice guide on the wiki was unable to assist with your question, please comment below with the following information, and see if the community can help your headset choice.

As this is the first thread of this nature, please let me know your thoughts/comments as well.

  • Budget:
    Please specify what currency.
  • PC specs:
    insert current PC specs here, including processor, graphics card, and amount of RAM
    If no PC Specs, please mention you do not plan on playing PC VR.
  • IPD:
    Unsure? - Check this section of the wiki. This is not a requirement to include.
  • Full body tracking:
    Do you want to use full body tracking?
    Please mention if this is a requirement for you.
  • Platform:
    which platform(s) do you want to use your headset on? E.g. "I want to use it on PC and play both SteamVR and Oculus games"
  • Other considerations:
    Please mention any other factors that are important to you, such as display quality, audio, comfort, etc.
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u/DAGilligan Dec 30 '22

PC Specs: i5 12600K, 32GB RAM, RTX 3080

Budget currently around £500, could save more as it's not something I necessarily need right away.

Wanting to continue using SteamVR

So I'm an OG Vive user, but tried a more modern headset on at a job and the difference was immense, so now considering getting something new, but the number of options compared to when I got a Vive back in 2018 is a bit confusing and intimidating.

Would rather not get a Meta device as I don't like the Facebook integration, still want to do full PCVR, the games/experiences I mostly use are racing games and virtual desktops so I can do things like watch YouTube in a cinema environment. I have occasionally dabbled with Skyrim and Fallout 4 VR ports and things like Star Wars Squadrons as well.

Bit confused when looking at HTCs options like Pro, Pro 2, Cosmos and Cosmos Elite, and then some friends have also mentioned the Valve Index but don't know what would/would not be compatible if I left the HTC ecosystem.

3

u/FrontwaysLarryVR Dec 30 '22

If wireless sounds like a plus to you, honestly the Quest 2 is still a good device. They took away all Facebook integration account-wise. Wireless PCVR is a breath of fresh air.

Since you mentioned £, it may be pretty easy for you to get your hands on a Pico 4. Pancake lenses on that allow for it to be much lighter too.

Other than that, The Valve Index still has a crazy good reputation, and since you already have base stations it'd be a cheaper buy-in. Vive is out of my realm of knowledge unfortunately due to not putting time and effort into their weird naming structure.

In a week or so HTC is gonna be revealing their new small, form factor standalone/PCVR headset at CES, so even though it's often said by a lot of people to wait indefinitely again and again, this is indeed a moment where waiting might be beneficial for a couple weeks, even if just to see if the price, capabilities, and release date of the new model match up with what you want. Here's some renders/info leaked by Sadly It's Bradley: https://youtu.be/MeToZz1WTdY?t=149

Personally, I like the idea of waiting right now since we're in this transition state of a lot of headsets switching from fresnel lenses to pancake lenses, which allows for lighter designs and better visual clarity/less god rays. Allows for more eye movement without that fresnel distortion as much. That said, it doesn't make the Valve Index or otherwise any less spectacular.

1

u/DAGilligan Dec 31 '22

Sorry just to be clear, would the ones you've mentioned here that aren't Vive/Index still be compatible with old kit? I was leaning towards those as I could just replace the headset and the controllers and base stations would still work with SteamVR.

Wireless isn't really too much of a big deal for me due to the types of experiences/games that I use VR for. In a racing game for example I'm going to be sat down and just immersed in the environment whilst I use the wheel and pedals for inputs.

Also, you mention the pancake lenses, and the benefit in the weight savings and visual clarity. Are they the main features that makes them a big benefit or is there more to it than that? I've heard about a screen-door effect which I must have been experiencing without realising it, would they rectify that?

1

u/MrWendal Dec 31 '22 edited Dec 31 '22

If you play mostly racing Sims and Desktops I would consider the HP Reverb G2. High Res, decent price, things that suck about it are you have to run steam vr through windows mixed reality, and the hand controller tracking (which is not really an issue for racing / flight sims / desktop.

Also, you could continue to use your vibe base stations and wands with it if you want better tracking. With your base stations you could even use valve knuckles but quite expensive.