Big screen beyond 2

[7Coolhand]

This one looks pretty promising. The e version comes with eye tracking. Maybe an upgrade from Quest Pro.

 

[dock999]

I have noticed this device as well  and just not sure whether the clarity of the headset is adequate enough to play flight SIMs.  What I feel good about the headset is ,apart from the comfort which is obvious , is the resolution which 2560 x2560 . The resolution is slightly lower than Pimax crystal light .   That means  the headset should be easily driven by current 4000 GPU .  Not like Pimax Crystal Super, You need to get another " commander center  " to properly run that device .

[Habu_69]

I have been flying DCS at very high quality options for 9 months with BsB v1. PC has RTX 4090, 64GB RAM and runs at constant 75 FPS with no stutters or issues. Very good video graphics, but FOV is not the greatest.

[ackattacker]

13 hours ago, dock999 said:

I have noticed this device as well  and just not sure whether the clarity of the headset is adequate enough to play flight SIMs.  What I feel good about the headset is ,apart from the comfort which is obvious , is the resolution which 2560 x2560 . The resolution is slightly lower than Pimax crystal light .   That means  the headset should be easily driven by current 4000 GPU .  Not like Pimax Crystal Super, You need to get another " commander center  " to properly run that device .

I don't have these but I'll say the overall ppd seems similar to Pimax Crystal which is very good resolution wise for DCS. With a 4090 the Crystal runs very well with eye tracking and pretty good without eye tracking. So what I'm trying to say is that at 75Hz the BSB should run fine with or without eye tracking, a Crystal Super is probably going to need the eye tracking working properly with quad views to run well. 

I'm actually on the fence cancelling my Crystal Super order and getting the BSB 2.

Way I see it: Pimax Crystal has advantages - Higher resolution, higher FOV, inside out tracking, eye tracking that already proven to work software wise with DCS. Disadvantages - heavy, poor record of quality control, often fiddly and half-baked drivers Chinese company with questionable business ethics, aspheric lenses require very high render resolution to apply distortion profile due to inherently high native distortion. 

BSB 2 has advantages - much much much lighter, custom fit, much more comfortable. I already own lighthouse stations and Index controllers. OLED screens and colors. Perfect eyebox position and IPD. Much more ethical and honest company. Lenses require much lower render resolution to apply distortion profile which makes for an easier time for the GPU. Disadvantages, lower FOV and lower resolution, but still very good. 

I'll also say that early previews from CES 2025 on the Crystal Super where very bad. Not just major distortions, but major mura. And that the high resolution is not that "wow" compared to existing headsets. Noticeable but not a "game changer" like you might expect.

Edited March 21 by ackattacker

[7Coolhand]

I think foveated rendering is a big advantage in DCS. I run my Quest Pro on a 4090 and this makes a big difference. It makes the center really clear with some supersampling in the centre of eye tracking.

BSB2e should be a winner if foveated rendering is implemented with DCS.

The OLED panels, form factor and eye tracking, hard to beat.

The resolution should be enough if the lenses are as good as in my Quest PRO. And it’s a quite big resolution bump compared to a Quest Pro.

Had planned to buy Pimax super, but now I will wait for some reviews.

[winghunter]

more FOV, less binocular overlap

[Jimmy8x]

another review

 

 

I ordered a 2e yesterday, can't wait! 

 

[dock999]

On 3/22/2025 at 1:56 AM, ackattacker said:

I don't have these but I'll say the overall ppd seems similar to Pimax Crystal which is very good resolution wise for DCS. With a 4090 the Crystal runs very well with eye tracking and pretty good without eye tracking. So what I'm trying to say is that at 75Hz the BSB should run fine with or without eye tracking, a Crystal Super is probably going to need the eye tracking working properly with quad views to run well. 

I'm actually on the fence cancelling my Crystal Super order and getting the BSB 2.

Way I see it: Pimax Crystal has advantages - Higher resolution, higher FOV, inside out tracking, eye tracking that already proven to work software wise with DCS. Disadvantages - heavy, poor record of quality control, often fiddly and half-baked drivers Chinese company with questionable business ethics, aspheric lenses require very high render resolution to apply distortion profile due to inherently high native distortion. 

BSB 2 has advantages - much much much lighter, custom fit, much more comfortable. I already own lighthouse stations and Index controllers. OLED screens and colors. Perfect eyebox position and IPD. Much more ethical and honest company. Lenses require much lower render resolution to apply distortion profile which makes for an easier time for the GPU. Disadvantages, lower FOV and lower resolution, but still very good. 

I'll also say that early previews from CES 2025 on the Crystal Super where very bad. Not just major distortions, but major mura. And that the high resolution is not that "wow" compared to existing headsets. Noticeable but not a "game changer" like you might expect.

What  BSB 2 attracts to me is the headset is to improve the optics rather than to increase the resolution to achieve better image quality . 

I have also pre-ordered Pimax Super and I have been running these fly sims with 4080.  Now we know from 4090 to 5090 of GPU , 5090 only give you 10-15 FPS boost in Flight Sims in VR. How much will cost me if I want to buy and  run pimax super in the resolution of Pimax Super ?  And BSB2 should be easily run by 4080 .

[ackattacker]

5 hours ago, dock999 said:

What  BSB 2 attracts to me is the headset is to improve the optics rather than to increase the resolution to achieve better image quality . 

I have also pre-ordered Pimax Super and I have been running these fly sims with 4080.  Now we know from 4090 to 5090 of GPU , 5090 only give you 10-15 FPS boost in Flight Sims in VR. How much will cost me if I want to buy and  run pimax super in the resolution of Pimax Super ?  And BSB2 should be easily run by 4080 .

I agree but playing devil's advocate, Pimax demoed the Crystal Super at CES with just an AMD 7800xt roughly equivalent to a 4080 and that ran DCS pretty well. With quad views, I think it'll be totally playable but maybe not at "full render resolution", but clearly more than BSB2.

Compared purely spec wise the Super definitely better... more resolution, way more brightness, way more FOV.

I think it comes down to the ergonomics and the company reputation, and what matters most to you.

Also BTW I think some more recent review of 5090 (VR flight sim guy) show that the 5090 really stretches it's legs when given a very high render resolution. Much more than 10-15% improvement if you pushing those crazy high resolution numbers.

[winghunter]

1. Comfort

• Bigscreen Beyond 2: Lightest and smallest VR headset, but the facial interface can get warm and uncomfortable over time. A planned halo strap may improve comfort in the future.

• MeganeX: Slightly heavier but more comfortable due to its halo strap and better ventilation. Users can easily tilt it up for breaks.

2. Visual Quality

• Bigscreen Beyond 2:

  • 2560x2560 per eye (6.5 MP) at 75Hz (upscale to 90Hz).

  • Sharp and crisp, but with a lower pixel count compared to MeganeX.

  • Better edge clarity and sweet spot with excellent lens design.

• MeganeX:

  • 3552x3840 per eye (27 MP) at 90Hz (possible 120Hz in the future).

  • Superior panel with better contrast, richer colors, and a more natural image.

  • Some warping at the edges, which may improve via software updates.

3. Field of View (FOV)

• Bigscreen Beyond 2: Superior FOV (~108° horizontal, 104° vertical) but has worse binocular overlap, which may cause eye strain for some users.

• MeganeX: Smaller FOV (~95° horizontal, 98° vertical) but more natural eye comfort due to better binocular overlap.

4. Performance

• Bigscreen Beyond 2: Requires less GPU power due to lower resolution, making it easier to maintain smooth performance.

• MeganeX: Demands a powerful NVIDIA GPU (no AMD support), with about 9 fps lower performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

5. Audio & Tracking

• Bigscreen Beyond 2: Integrated audio strap available now, with better microphone quality.

• MeganeX: No official audio strap yet, but planned for future release.

• Both headsets rely on external base station tracking (one or two required).

6. Software Stability

• Bigscreen Beyond 2: More stable and integrates seamlessly with SteamVR.

• MeganeX: Experiences occasional crashes and longer startup times but promises future support for motion smoothing and OpenXR.

7. Price

• Bigscreen Beyond 2: More affordable (~$1,150-$1,200 after taxes) and better value for most users.

• MeganeX: More expensive (~$1,600/€1,900) but offers superior display and comfort.

8. Conclusion

• Bigscreen Beyond 2: Better for most users due to its affordability, superior FOV, and better lenses.

• MeganeX: Preferred by the reviewer for personal use due to its exceptional display quality and comfort.

Overall, both headsets are impressive, pushing VR technology forward with micro-OLED panels and compact designs.

---
My2c

The halo strap would be a must have for the bsb2. The current FI looks extremely uncomfy. And meanwhie I'm in the binocular overlap camp. Without it, the image looks "2D" even though you're in VR. I rather have that, than a bigger FoV

Edited March 23 by winghunter

[Jimmy8x]

Personally could not bring myself to consider the Meganex for a few reasons, aside from the price. It's their first real consumer hmd and has no refund/return policy.

Overlap in the Beyond 2, according to the WIMFOV results I've been looking at, is average among modern HMDs. Bigger than the Quest 3's and much bigger than the Aero, which has really poor overlap. I often feel like my Aero is 2.5D and it's just a big TV hanging off the front of my head.

 

 

 

[7Coolhand]

I’m really tempted to order a BSB2 with eye tracking. Doubt that there will be a better PCVR alternative in a couple of years for simmers. Specially when You consider the weight and form factor.

Sure the Crystal super has impressive specifications but it looks like a piece of hardware from the 80’s compared to BSB2.

[markturner1960]

I am also very excited about this.......run a quest pro currently, with quad views and love it, cant fault it.....thats the only issue, why would I be upgrading, when I cant really fault my current experience....? Of course, money no object, I would be right in there.....

[Qcumber]

I like the look of the eye tracking version. My main issue is that you need to buy base stations and controllers separately. 

[skywalker22]

1 hour ago, Qcumber said:

I like the look of the eye tracking version. My main issue is that you need to buy base stations and controllers separately. 

Are there controllers?

Like with Meta Quest headsets, controllers are required in some cases. I don't know how is the case then with Beyond.

There is noting on their official website about controllers.

[ackattacker]

31 minutes ago, skywalker22 said:

Are there controllers?

Like with Meta Quest headsets, controllers are required in some cases. I don't know how is the case then with Beyond.

There is noting on their official website about controllers.

The bigscreen beyond is a bare headset. Doesn't include controllers or base stations. Bare minimum for DCS would be one lighthouse station. You don't really need controllers for DCS although they come in handy sometimes for setup. You can get by without them. Many people considering the BSB 2 already have old Index controllers and base stations lying around. If you don't, it's going to add a lot of money to the cost equation.

Edited March 23 by ackattacker

[winghunter]

I wish someone hacked the Quest 3 controllers so they can be used standalone

[skywalker22]

1 hour ago, ackattacker said:

The bigscreen beyond is a bare headset. Doesn't include controllers or base stations. Bare minimum for DCS would be one lighthouse station. You don't really need controllers for DCS although they come in handy sometimes for setup. You can get by without them. Many people considering the BSB 2 already have old Index controllers and base stations lying around. If you don't, it's going to add a lot of money to the cost equation.

If so, then no thx. I will keep my Quest Pro.

[DayGlow]

4 hours ago, skywalker22 said:

Are there controllers?

Like with Meta Quest headsets, controllers are required in some cases. I don't know how is the case then with Beyond.

There is noting on their official website about controllers.

You can navigate SteamVR with a gamepad so if you only use VR for sims you don't have to worry about VR controllers. 

[diego999]

Aside from specs/price discussion, I think this is a step in the right direction. VR won't be "truly" immersive as long as you have to endure a giant brick glued to your forehead for several hours.

Rather than crazy resolution or bigger FOV, I'm more interested in a smaller/lighter headset down the road.

[ackattacker]

One caution for those ordering the eye tracking version is that there is no guarantee that eye tracking will work with DCS. Right now there are basically 2 ways to get DFR/Quad views in DCS, with Virtual Desktop (Quest Pro) or PimaxXR. SteamVR doesn't really support this natively and BigScreen Beyond is a SteamVR headset. Now that Mbuccia is no longer doing this type of development it's not clear how or when BSB will support DCS eye tracking.

[Stellatny45]

15 hours ago, ackattacker said:

One caution for those ordering the eye tracking version is that there is no guarantee that eye tracking will work with DCS. Right now there are basically 2 ways to get DFR/Quad views in DCS, with Virtual Desktop (Quest Pro) or PimaxXR. SteamVR doesn't really support this natively and BigScreen Beyond is a SteamVR headset. Now that Mbuccia is no longer doing this type of development it's not clear how or when BSB will support DCS eye tracking.

BSB2e eye tracking is implemented for VRchat. The most interesting accessory is the halo strap, but until it is actually in full production and can likely be used comfortably without the custom face cushion I won't place an order.

[ackattacker]

5 hours ago, Stellatny45 said:

BSB2e eye tracking is implemented for VRchat. The most interesting accessory is the halo strap, but until it is actually in full production and can likely be used comfortably without the custom face cushion I won't place an order.

Yes when the CEO of Bigscreen, Darshan Shankar, sat down with Adam Savage's Tested youtube channel, he talked about how the focus for eye tracking is on social (VRchat) and performance applications (DFR) is a down the road aspiration. Based on that, I wouldn't be buying the BSB2e with the assumption that it will help with DCS. Somebody has to do the actual coding to make it work and there is no longer any friendly developer doing this work for free, either ED or BSB needs to put the development time in.

Edited March 25 by ackattacker

[Aapje]

Bigscreen needs to switch to OpenXR. That is the future and foveated rendering is part of that standard, so they can then implement it in a way that works for everything.

 

[av8orDave]

6 hours ago, Aapje said:

Bigscreen needs to switch to OpenXR. That is the future and foveated rendering is part of that standard, so they can then implement it in a way that works for everything.

 

This. SteamVR is a dealbreaker for me.