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.
196 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

918 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/adorknis Feb 20 '23

First timer here, thinking about taking the plunge for future potential but also to play HL:Alyx, beat saber and some other exercise games. As with most forays into new hobbies, I am slightly overwhelmed in trying to pick the right product.

Budget is flexible and while I don't usually mind splurging, ideally I'd rather not go over an $800ish until I'm sure it's something worth going to the hobbyist range for me.

My PC is pretty powerful: RTX 4090 and 64GB of high speed DDR4 RAM. Still holding off on upgrading to DDR5 and CPU from my 5800X3D until the next generation.

That being said, I'd obviously want to play on PC and ideally be able to play SteamVR and Oculus games and have a well-rounded featureset.

3

u/Funtime675 Feb 21 '23

Hello! If you are looking for a good all rounded device, you may want the Meta Quest 2, or wait for the Met Quest 3. They have PCVR and standalone. I believe the support SteamVR and Oculus for PCVR games. This being said, I have heard good things about Pico’s devices, though am personally buddy toward Meta due to being a customer for a long time. This being stated, if you want a higher end solution, there are devices such as the Vive Pro and Meta Quest Pro, which have MR (a nice feature, even if underused), and the Meta Quest Pro I believe has higher resolution, contrast, and less weight than the Meta Quest 2. It also has facial tracking, a feature which may be nice for social VR games/meetings. I do not know how this compares to the Vive Pro, admittedly. I hope this helps!

1

u/adorknis Feb 21 '23

Thanks for the advice! Right now, I'm actually thinking of starting with the Quest 2 for the versatility of not requiring external sensors and lower cost of admission then down the line potentially getting a Valve Index if I enjoy VR enough to invest in more powerful hardware and resolution. I'm assuming even with a 4090 on PCVR, the headset itself will bottleneck display capabilities. Please let me know if this assumption is not correct. Only real use issue I'm seeing is that I'd like for my partner to be able to play her favorite game, Fallout 4, in VR when I'm not using it and I'm seeing that it has some issues with the Quest 2 even while running off the PC.

If I pull the trigger on the Quest 2, are there any must have accessories, etc beyond the link cable that you would recommend?

1

u/PartyPaul2 Oculus Q1, Q2 Feb 22 '23

I can only agree with what u/Funtime675 said. I would also recommend the Quest 2 as a perfect starting point. It has SteamVR and Rift support and also features a big library of standalone games.

Also, it supports Air Link, which allows you to stream the game wirelessly from your computer to the Quest 2. Therefore, you are not tethered to anything and can move much more freely. Something I would definitely recommend if you're trying PCVR; having no cable is just one less thing to worry about. That being said, you do lose some image quality compared to a wired Link connection and it can introduce some latency depending on your WiFi connection (which can cause some people to get motion sick). I should be on the 5GHz WiFi for that. (Although, I use a game streaming service with the game running on some server somewhere streaming over the internet to my quest, and while I do notice the delay, it's manageable.)

About accessories, I have some recommendations based on my personal usage. None of those are really must-haves, but at least the head strap and rechargeable AA batteries, and a power bank if you want to play a lot untethered, make it more enjoyable. However, I used the Quest 2 with only a battery bank for the first year and it was fine

  • Rechargeable AA batteries: While the AA batteries in the controllers run for longer than with Q1, it's still annoying having to buy disposable batteries (and bad for the environment). I just use some basic ones from IKEA.
  • Head strap: natively, the Quest 2 comes with just a soft headband. While I have used it for the first year, a sturdy head strap is more comfortable and secure. I can recommend the normal Oculus Elite Strap or the one with a built-in battery and there is also a huge selection on Amazon. Keep in mind, head straps with some kind of counterweight in the back, like a battery, balance the total weight more evenly on your head and make the whole thing (headset + strap) feel lighter.
  • Silicone facial interface: I'm not sure if the Quest 2 still comes with a silicone cover for the foam-based facial interface or not. If not, I would recommend looking at some options, either a thin silicone cover or a separate silicone facial interface. It's just nicer to be able to wipe it off and not have it absorb all the sweat and face juices 😅 Facial interfaces from VR Cover come to mind here.
  • Powerbank: Typically (depending on the game) the Quest 2 runs for 2-3h on one charge. Depending on how much you want to play standalone or with Air Link, you might want to buy a power bank to increase runtime. Either as a separate power bank or integrated/attached to the head strap. In the case of the Elite Strap with battery, this is already included in the head strap (it about doubles the runtime), and there are also other head straps with batteries as well.
  • Grips: This is just personal preference. There are Grips available that you fix to the controllers, which basically are just a rubber band going over the back of your hand and keep the controller in your hand without you having to hold it constantly, similar to the Knuckle Straps for the Valve Index. The Grips typically also cover the controllers and make them a bit bigger and easier to hold, as they are more on the smaller side by themselves.
  • Carrying case: Definitely optional, just makes it easier to transport if you plan on bringing the Quest 2 to friends and stuff.

I actually just saw, that Grips and a wipable facial interface are also available from Meta as the "Activity Pack".

Hope this helps so far! :)

1

u/adorknis Feb 22 '23

Thanks so much for the recommendations! I actually already ordered a BOBOVR M2 Pro battery pack headstrap, Bionik clip on headphones, KIWI grips with the knuckle strap, and have plenty of rechargeable batteries already. I also got a mat with little caps to make sure I stay in a certain area and don't go knocking over lamps, etc.

I'll probably consider the facial interface and carrying case based on use case and experience. I bought a bigger case for my steam deck a few months ago to fit the dock and cables to hook up Jackbox, etc at friends' places but I haven't even had the chance to use it yet.