Best VR Headset (upgrade from Reverb G2)?

[Raketenfrosch]

Hey,

Love DCS VR, but I hate the tiny sweetspot of the G2.

Furthermore I would like to replace mouse-control by any pointer system or handtracking.

And G2 will not be usable in future to missing WMR support?

Should I go with the Quest 3 with handtracking now - is it a great upgrade or should I wait for next generation of headsets with eye tracking?

 

Thanks 4 your thoughts

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Have a look through this subforum  

There are plenty of threads on this exact topic already.

[Gun Jam]

do you have a price range? I hear good things about the Vario Xr4 and the sominum Vr 1 they both have large sweet spots and decent FOV

[Aapje]

2 hours ago, Raketenfrosch said:

And G2 will not be usable in future to missing WMR support?

It has gotten removed from Windows 11 version 24H2. You can use it for a year more by locking the PC down to Windows 11 23H2 or by staying on Windows 10, but both are not advisable for the long term, as Windows 10 will stop getting security fixes at the end of the new year, and the same is true for Windows 11 23H2.

So I would upgrade before then.

2 hours ago, Raketenfrosch said:

Should I go with the Quest 3 with handtracking now - is it a great upgrade or should I wait for next generation of headsets with eye tracking?

I would upgrade and not wait, as there is no sign of an affordable next gen headset with eye tracking or any other features that matter for PCVR. So you'll just be waiting with no clear end.

But note that handtracking on the Quest is very mediocre and most people seem to consider it unusable for DCS. Instead, you can get a SlugMouse or PointCTRL device which actually works. The former requires a Quest since it uses the Quest tracking, while the latter has its own sensor, so it also works with the Pimax Crystal Light.

My advice is to pick between the Quest 3 and the Pimax Crystal Light, unless the price is no big deal. But even then it is questionable whether more expensive headsets really add more than their downsides take away again.

PS. The Quest 3 has the least issue with a sweet spot. The Pimax has better peak quality, but also some serious quality control issues. So more risk and more potential reward with that one. But it's more likely that you get things right with the Quest 3.

[Raketenfrosch]

Are there performance differences between the G2 and the Quest 3 in DCS?

They have almost the same resolution, but use different software.

I have an AMD RyzonAMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6x 4.6GHz + 4070ti + 32 GB RAM

Is there any obligatory accessory I need to buy with the Q3 for DCS?

 

[jurinko]

4 hours ago, Raketenfrosch said:

Are there performance differences between the G2 and the Quest 3 in DCS?

They have almost the same resolution, but use different software.

I have an AMD RyzonAMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6x 4.6GHz + 4070ti + 32 GB RAM

Is there any obligatory accessory I need to buy with the Q3 for DCS?

 

You can set the frequency in Quest 3 to 72Hz and up the resolution (60 Hz with G2 is unbearable and 90Hz is demanding).
I have 5600x, 4080, 64GB RAM and I am very satisfied going from G2 to Q3. I have most of the settings on high(est), DLSS Quality on and PD 1.5.

For me, the most needed trick for totally smooth performance is to use Meta OpenXR runtime and Turbo ON in OpenXR Toolkit.

[Grodin]

21 hours ago, Raketenfrosch said:

Hey,

Love DCS VR, but I hate the tiny sweetspot of the G2.

Furthermore I would like to replace mouse-control by any pointer system or handtracking.

And G2 will not be usable in future to missing WMR support?

Should I go with the Quest 3 with handtracking now - is it a great upgrade or should I wait for next generation of headsets with eye tracking?

 

Thanks 4 your thoughts

In my opinion don't get a quest 3. Its an absolute mess.

- Update might completely brick your unit, lots of info about this online
- You need virtual desktop and compatible router for it to get somewhat OK pcvr experience, link cable is junk (No AV1 codec with USB link, many people have issues with the quest microphone not working well over USB link, the headset will struggle to keep battery charge during gaming if you have to plug it to a usb port instead of a charger etc etc)
- Having it plugged in your pc might have a bug where the headset infinitely keeps restarting thus never charging, this bug has been for years, check on the meta forums
- Another bug for years is it keeps complaining about dirt/water in the USB port preventing charging even with new headsets and new cables, also lots of info on meta forums

Just to mention a few. I absolutely hate the quest 3.

For performance you pretty much need a 4080 to be able to run 100% native resolution with MSAA 2x for an enjoyable graphics. DLSS/DLAA/TAA is a ghosting and blurry mess so you don't want that.

Hand tracking really works only with the point control, other means of hand tracking just don't work well. Until you get that i suggest setting up your mouse close to the joystick and/or second mouse near the throttle.

Crystal light or crystal super would be my choice. Displayport connection is infinitely better than transferring compressed frames over USB or wifi.

Edited 7 hours ago by Grodin

[diego999]

I've been using a Quest 3 for almost a year. No issues so far and I'm very satisfied. It's a solid headset for the price.

I tried Virtual Desktop but I can't match the visual quality of the link cable. Having the Q3 plugged while you play has the additional advantage of conserving battery (mine never goes below 80%) and this is using a generic $15 cable. No expensive Meta cable, no powered USB port, nothing.

[Aapje]

10 hours ago, Raketenfrosch said:

Is there any obligatory accessory I need to buy with the Q3 for DCS?

I think that a better headstrap is mandatory for almost everyone. And get a high speed USB-C cable that is long enough. Having a powered USB hub is a good idea to keep the charge up.

In general I would advise a powered USB hub because we often connect many peripherals to the PC and then it's very easy for the ports to run out of power, which can cause all kinds of issues with the USB devices.

 

@Grodin

Meta sometimes has updates that brick headsets, which is why I turned off automatic updates and wait for the updates to get forced onto the headset. By then, any issues will have been dealt with. Of course, if you get a Crystal Light, then the issue is poor quality control and sometimes rather poor support.

A high-speed USB cable works fine for me. You can set a higher bit rate through the debug tool. AV1 puts a high load on the CPU and the bit rate is so limited with Link that it seems better not to use it.

I keep charge sufficiently with a powered USB hub. Not sure why you are blaming the Quest for it not keeping charge when you plug it into an USB port that provides relatively little power. Do you expect Meta to come to your house and solder a higher power USB port onto your motherboard?

I've never had the infinite restarting thing. I've never had the dirt/water issue either. If that happens with a new headset, get a replacement headset. I never had an issue with the audio either, aside from Windows messing up the audio device.

I have a very hard time believing that you have been hit with all these issues. It looks more like you've been collecting all the horror stories for just one product, while conveniently ignoring the very many horror stories about the product you recommend. That is not a fair and balanced way to judge these devices.

Edited 1 hour ago by Aapje