Valve Index vs HP Reverb

[memoric]

Hello

 

 

So I'm considering to buy either the Reverb or the Index. I've watched videos and read trought several threads so I know the pros and cons of both.

 

I know that the Reverb has a better Resolution than the Index. But is the difference that big? Can you identify other planes without any problems too with the Index? And are instruments and text readable without Zoom with the Index?

 

 

 

I'm tending to buy the Index, but if the gap is too big between these two in terms of image clarity then I might reconsider.

 

 

 

Thanks

Edited April 17, 2020 by memoric

[Snowy55]

I’ve had a Valve Index for several months now and love it. It is so well designed and the side field of view is not to be underrated, nor is the soundscape generated by the off-ear speakers. I find I am able to spot and identify other aircraft in multiplayer and solo without any more difficulty than I had with head tracking. I have no experience with the Reverb so can’t comment on that.

[imacken]

Hello

 

 

So I'm considering to buy either the Reverb or the Index. I've watched videos and read trought several threads so I know the pros and cons of both.

 

I know that the Reverb has a better Resolution than the Index. But is the difference that big? Can you identify other planes without any problems too with the Index? And are instruments and text readable without Zoom with the Index?

 

 

 

I'm tending to buy the Index, but if the gap is too big between these two in terms of image clarity then I might reconsider.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

You'll get lots of different opinions on this.

 

I owned the Index and the Reverb, and although the Index has a lot going for it, I sent it back and kept the Reverb as the extra resolution and clarity in DCS makes it the winner for me.

[Callsign.Vega]

Reverb if you have more normal IPD around 60-65 which is like 70% of people. My IPD of 68.2 is a bit too much for the fixed Reverb.

 

I await the Reverb 2.0 which unless they are insane, will have a physical IPD adjustment.

[memoric]

Thank you for your answers!

 

 

So the difference isn't that big, I will buy the Index if available again, as I'm using it also for HL Alyx and other VR games.

 

 

Another question: Do Audio Headphones fit on top of the Index? I want to use my BD MMX 300, and not the included in the VR Kit. Is this possible without getting any fitting problems?

[imacken]

Thank you for your answers!

 

 

So the difference isn't that big, I will buy the Index if available again, as I'm using it also for HL Alyx and other VR games.

 

 

Another question: Do Audio Headphones fit on top of the Index? I want to use my BD MMX 300, and not the included in the VR Kit. Is this possible without getting any fitting problems?

 

The difference in resolution is big, especially for DCS. Reverb also works beautifully in Alyx, of course.

[memoric]

The difference in resolution is big, especially for DCS. Reverb also works beautifully in Alyx, of course.

 

 

As long as I can read the little digits on the radar page without any problem, I'm happy with the lower image clarity. Maybe in 2-4 years when the hardware part is less of an limiting factor, i will buy a higher resolution Headset.

 

 

Until then, I think I'll go with the Index.

 

 

But thank you anyway for your advice.

[eaglecash867]

As long as I can read the little digits on the radar page without any problem, I'm happy with the lower image clarity. Maybe in 2-4 years when the hardware part is less of an limiting factor, i will buy a higher resolution Headset.

 

With a higher resolution headset, you can run lower super-sampling. Super-sampling is the big performance killer. But, for Alyx, I've found the WMR controllers with the Reverb to be pretty clunky. I actually go back to my old CV1 when playing Alyx, just because the Oculus Touch controllers are so much better. I guess everything has its pros and cons.

[dburne]

With a higher resolution headset, you can run lower super-sampling. Super-sampling is the big performance killer. But, for Alyx, I've found the WMR controllers with the Reverb to be pretty clunky. I actually go back to my old CV1 when playing Alyx, just because the Oculus Touch controllers are so much better. I guess everything has its pros and cons.

 

Yeah the Oculus Touch controllers work great in Alyx, I am enjoying the heck out of it with my Rift S.

[eaglecash867]

Yeah the Oculus Touch controllers work great in Alyx, I am enjoying the heck out of it with my Rift S.

 

I'm really enjoying it too, although I have to limit my time on it to less than an hour. Still getting used to how disturbingly real and creepy it is, so it still freaks me out a little bit. Even on the old CV1 its quite impressive.

[imacken]

I have no problem using the WMR controllers in Alyx. Work nicely I think. However, I’m sure the knuckles are perfect for this.

[memoric]

Another question: Do Audio Headphones fit on top of the Index? I want to use my BD MMX 300, and not the included in the VR Kit. Is this possible without getting any fitting problems?

 

 

Someone can answer me this please?

 

 

Thanks

[RealDCSpilot]

I used BD 770 DT years ago with my 1st VR-HMD, believe me, you don't want to use headphones anymore after you tried those over-ear BMR speakers of the Index.

[memoric]

I used BD 770 DT years ago with my 1st VR-HMD, believe me, you don't want to use headphones anymore after you tried those over-ear BMR speakers of the Index.

 

 

Thank you for your answer.

 

 

Well I have a 400 dollar soundcard and a 300 dollar headset, so I think it will be better than those speakers of the index.

[Svsmokey]

I use a headset over a Rift S . Not bad to put on and use , but it is a major pain to take off at the end of a session , with tangled or fouled cables . Over the long term , it may cause damage . With the Index audio as good as it is reputed to be , I would recommend using that .

[FoxTwo]

Someone can answer me this please?

 

Thanks

 

 

You can remove the speakerphones from the index, they're held in place with a hex nut I think.

[memoric]

You can remove the speakerphones from the index, they're held in place with a hex nut I think.

 

 

Ok, thank you!

[sk000tch]

Its a sim, not RL, but I have spent too many hundreds of hours drilling eyes up outside the cockpit into student pilot's heads to willingly strap anything on my face than requires me to fixate on any instrument.

 

Center image clarity has diminishing returns at a certain point. What is completely undervalued and not discussed, is the large FOV (vertical included), coupled with edge to edge clarity. I can maintain formation with one eye on #1 while I adjust DDIs in peripheral vision in an index, i can't do that in a reverb (I had both for a while, also rift S). That's just one example, point being I am able to fly realistically with quick instrument rotations while head up outside cockpit. For me that's huge, because the ultimate in realism is a system that does not require you to fundamentally change how you fly in real life right?

 

But, everyone has different preferences, and I don't think you can really go wrong with either given level of support for both. If I could suggest anything it would be trying both if possible (realizing for many it is not), as for me it wasn't close using both side by side. Others have arrived at different decisions, however.

 

I have not tried a cosmos fwiw, Varjo FOV is disappointing given its price. Frankly we are still a gen away from the truly killer human eye resolution wide AND tall FOV VRS + Eye tracking HMDs.

 

One potentially big factor is whether you do anything besides sim? HL:A for example, is very different on WMR vs. Index.

[imacken]

HL:A for example, is very different on WMR vs. Index.

 

What do you mean by that?

[memoric]

Its a sim, not RL, but I have spent too many hundreds of hours drilling eyes up outside the cockpit into student pilot's heads to willingly strap anything on my face than requires me to fixate on any instrument.

 

Center image clarity has diminishing returns at a certain point. What is completely undervalued and not discussed, is the large FOV (vertical included), coupled with edge to edge clarity. I can maintain formation with one eye on #1 while I adjust DDIs in peripheral vision in an index, i can't do that in a reverb (I had both for a while, also rift S). That's just one example, point being I am able to fly realistically with quick instrument rotations while head up outside cockpit. For me that's huge, because the ultimate in realism is a system that does not require you to fundamentally change how you fly in real life right?

 

But, everyone has different preferences, and I don't think you can really go wrong with either given level of support for both. If I could suggest anything it would be trying both if possible (realizing for many it is not), as for me it wasn't close using both side by side. Others have arrived at different decisions, however.

 

I have not tried a cosmos fwiw, Varjo FOV is disappointing given its price. Frankly we are still a gen away from the truly killer human eye resolution wide AND tall FOV VRS + Eye tracking HMDs.

 

One potentially big factor is whether you do anything besides sim? HL:A for example, is very different on WMR vs. Index.

 

 

Thank you for your answer.

 

 

I read that too that the index has a bigger "sweet spot", and for me it's quite important too, not to have to center your head on the instrument to see it clearly.

 

 

 

My choice will be the index, if it's available for purchasing again. Also because I read that HL: Alyx is phenomenal with the index. Generally all vr games are better with the index than the reverb, because of tracking and comfort of the controllers, i heard.

 

 

Thanks

Edited April 21, 2020 by memoric

[Mr. Big.Biggs]

Fwiw, and being a glasses wearer my FOV in the index is no worse that when I have glasses on my face. Same with sweet spot. I rarely if ever feel like I need to move my head more than normal to see what I need to see clearly. Adding the prescription lenses and removing my glasses gives me the feel of better than normal FOV outside the cockpit. That said, I do find myself having to turn farther left or right than normal to see my six or some of the far back switches on lower side panels of the F14.

Fun thing about vr is you can lean out the “window “ and look back around your tail. Try that in the real fighter!!

[imacken]

Also because I read that HL: Alyx is phenomenal with the index. Generally all vr games are better with the index than the reverb, because of tracking and comfort of the controllers, i heard.

Thanks

HL:A is phenomenal on the Reverb, believe me. I owned the Index and it is a nice headset, but for DCS the res of the Reverb is king.

BTW, I have no issues at all with tracking or comfort with the Reverb. Sure the knuckle controlers are nicer, but the WMR ones do the job perfectly OK.

Also, can't say I noticed a particularly larger sweet spot on the Index compred to Reverb. Maybe a bit, not not a huge difference I would say.

[Wali763]

Had both, but also sold both and am still on TrackIR.

 

Clarity of Reverb is great, but just a little outside of the middle its already quite blurry. So you need to look always straight at the dial you want moving your head. Not possible to do a short glance down/to the side. Cable is annoying too. WMR wasnt.

 

Index is great overall with better clarity over the whole image, but worse resolution in the middle. Bigger FOV is very nice. Needs more computingpower compared to Reverb, which is strange.I guess its since you need less SS.

 

I preferred the Index, but since I was often stuck in low fps with fairly low settings (seemed more CPU-bound), sold it again.

 

The Index with Reverb-resolution and much better fps (and Rift-S sweetspot and software) were the sweet spot for me. Maybe Reverb G2...... but I guess DCS will still be the real problem with its not too great VR-adaption.

[The_Sko]

I have the i7-9700K and a GTX 1660 Ti and like the OP am debating between these two. Maybe the Pimax too, but I'll leave it alone for now. Are these going to be enough power to run either of these in DCS?