Pimax Crystal Super / Production Problems?

[Nedum]

Hello everyone.

I had problems with my first Crystal Super and received a replacement device.
The problem is that the replacement device has almost the same problems as the previous device, which is why I almost hope that it is not a replacement device, because otherwise I am incredibly “lucky” with the devices or PIMAX has a huge problem with the quality of the devices.
I would like to ask here whether I am just unlucky or whether you are also familiar with these problems.
I have the following problems with both devices:

1. Chromatic aberration in the sweet spot. With the first device, it was so severe that all the illuminated buttons in the F16 cockpit turned white and I saw all the numbers three times in different colors. With the second device, I “only” see this in the pause/start image on the buttons. There is no sign of it in the F16 cockpit.

2. The left fan (when I put on the headset) sounds like a bee, so even with noise-canceling headphones, I can hear this buzzing noise when it's quiet in the game. Playing with the DMAS headphones is not possible this way, at least if you value the background noise in the game.

3. The right display gets brighter or darker depending on whether I'm looking at a light or dark area. This doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen occasionally and manifests itself as a very slow flickering.

4. To achieve the sweet spot in the left display, I have to push the headset up about 3-5 mm on the left side and move it slightly to the left so that my eye moves further down and to the right to see everything clearly with my left eye.
This wasn't quite as extreme with the first Crystal Super.
When aligning the HMD with the HUD, I see two lines on the large cross. On the right eye, the line runs vertically from top to bottom.
On my left eye, I have a second line, as if I were squinting. This line drifts down to the left. I didn't have this with the first headset.

Due to all these almost identical errors with both headsets, I almost suspect that an attempt was made to repair the old headset and that the headset was given a new SN so that the 14-day trial period could be controlled by the system again.
However, if it is indeed a new headset and so many problems are identical on both headsets, I wanted to ask you if you are experiencing similar issues?

I am an owner of the OG Crystal and have not a single issue with it.

 

Greetings

Edited Thursday at 08:35 AM by Nedum

[Peedee]

2 hours ago, Nedum said:

Hello everyone.

I had problems with my first Crystal Super and received a replacement device.
The problem is that the replacement device has almost the same problems as the previous device, which is why I almost hope that it is not a replacement device, because otherwise I am incredibly “lucky” with the devices or PIMAX has a huge problem with the quality of the devices.
I would like to ask here whether I am just unlucky or whether you are also familiar with these problems.
I have the following problems with both devices:

1. Chromatic aberration in the sweet spot. With the first device, it was so severe that all the illuminated buttons in the F16 cockpit turned white and I saw all the numbers three times in different colors. With the second device, I “only” see this in the pause/start image on the buttons. There is no sign of it in the F16 cockpit.

2. The left fan (when I put on the headset) sounds like a bee, so even with noise-canceling headphones, I can hear this buzzing noise when it's quiet in the game. Playing with the DMAS headphones is not possible this way, at least if you value the background noise in the game.

3. The right display gets brighter or darker depending on whether I'm looking at a light or dark area. This doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen occasionally and manifests itself as a very slow flickering.

4. To achieve the sweet spot in the left display, I have to push the headset up about 3-5 mm on the left side and move it slightly to the left so that my eye moves further down and to the right to see everything clearly with my left eye.
This wasn't quite as extreme with the first Crystal Super.
When aligning the HMD with the HUD, I see two lines on the large cross. On the right eye, the line runs vertically from top to bottom.
On my left eye, I have a second line, as if I were squinting. This line drifts down to the left. I didn't have this with the first headset.

Due to all these almost identical errors with both headsets, I almost suspect that an attempt was made to repair the old headset and that the headset was given a new SN so that the 14-day trial period could be controlled by the system again.
However, if it is indeed a new headset and so many problems are identical on both headsets, I wanted to ask you if you are experiencing similar issues?

I am an owner of the OG Crystal and have not a single issue with it.

 

Greetings

1. I only have very very little chromatic aberration on the very outer edges of the view. Maybe the best headset I have experienced when it comes to chromatic aberration. My Crystal OG has way more, and the Crystal Light I used for a while also had more.

2. I can not hear any fan. But the outside front of the headset do get a little bit hot after a while when I touch it with my fingers. Maybe my fans are too slow, or not working??  But the heat cannot be felt inside the headset. So, I am good for now anyway. (Also, I like to have an external small table fan blowing at my face and upper body regardless - feels good, and kinda adds to the immersion in some games. And then the outside front don't feel hot either). 

3. Not experienced this.

4. Not experienced this. Have you tried to play with the IPD offsets values in Pimax Play? Because of my eyes I have put +1 on my right eye. Had to do that on my Original Crystal too. Or else I felt a bit cross eyed. But then again, it's my eyes that are that way I think since I had to do it on both headsets.

I think you have been very unlucky   I think I read or saw somewhere that Pimax stated that non-working or bad quality headsets will not be sent out to other users as replacements. Not sure. Hope you get your problems fixed soon. I'm in awe when playind DCS these days. My only problem is that I am not at home, but at my cabin - so I don't have my F-16 Cockpit and Hotas, Force sensing F16 stick - and all my stuff here  Have to settle for a simpler flying solution. But still... the headset is good. 

[Panzerlang]

None of the above. I do have what appears to be one dead pixel (it's that or a tiny grain of dust) and the screen-door effect against bright backgrounds that's like a very pale grey filter over the entire image. I'm wondering recently if that's what everyone calls muira/mura? I'm also assuming the very slight squiffiness I experience when I move my eyes off-center is the binocular overlap not being as good as the OG's.

PeeDee, do you have astigmatism in that right eye? I have it in my left and have been thinking about playing with the offset stuff. How does it work?

[Peedee]

10 minutes ago, Panzerlang said:

None of the above. I do have what appears to be one dead pixel (it's that or a tiny grain of dust) and the screen-door effect against bright backgrounds that's like a very pale grey filter over the entire image. I'm wondering recently if that's what everyone calls muira/mura? I'm also assuming the very slight squiffiness I experience when I move my eyes off-center is the binocular overlap not being as good as the OG's.

PeeDee, do you have astigmatism in that right eye? I have it in my left and have been thinking about playing with the offset stuff. How does it work?

I think I have very slight astigmatism in my right eye. When people take pictures of me when I am drunk I can see it. Not much, but I can see it in those pictures. So that is why I have tried +1 the last few months on the right eye - and it feels better. But when I look in the mirror (when I am sober) I don't see it as much. I have not look myself in the mirror when I am that drunk for years. So - not sure how that will turn out. 

Try setting + 1 or -1 (or more) in the offset menu for your left eye. Keep the IPD as you have it now. See if it feels better or worse. No problem adjusting it back if it gets worse or doesn't help. Not sure if it is needed to calibrate eye tracking after this. I have not done that, and it works still as expected.

[Panzerlang]

I had a play with it, IL2 went really cock-eyed. Lol.

[Nedum]

Hello @Peedee and @Panzerlang,

 

thank you both for the response. On one side, I am happy you both have "super" Supers (  ) and it gives me a little bit of a hope, on the other side I am really frustrated that "2" Headsets I've got are so bad.

And thank you for taking the time to provide information about the offset settings.
I may test this over the weekend, but at the moment I am frustrated when I put on the headset and see the excellent image quality, knowing that I will have to return the headset because my previous headset already had all these issues, which I reported extensively (photos, sound files), and then I get a headset back with almost all the same flaws, and on top of that there's a note signed by two people saying that the headset passed all the tests.
Are they blind and deaf?
I don't know how the testing is done, but delivering something like this to the customer with almost all the faults still present shows either a great sense of humor or simply incompetence.
The worst thing is that, no matter how frustrated I am, I will have to wait months and will probably receive the same device again.

@Calvin.Pimax

Should I give this device back to be sure not to get this device again and order another one?

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 03:44 PM by Nedum

[Dawgboy]

4 minutes ago, Nedum said:

Hello @Peedee and @Panzerlang,

 

thank you both for the response. On one side, I am happy you both have "super" Supers (  ) and it gives me a little bit of a hope, on the other side I am really frustrated that "2" Headsets I've got are so bad.

And thank you for taking the time to provide information about the offset settings.
I may test this over the weekend, but at the moment I am frustrated when I put on the headset and see the excellent image quality, knowing that I will have to return the headset because my previous headset already had all these issues, which I reported extensively (photos, sound files), and then I get a headset back with almost all the same flaws, and on top of that there's a note signed by two people saying that the headset passed all the tests.
Are they blind and deaf?
I don't know how the testing is done, but delivering something like this to the customer with almost all the faults still present shows either a great sense of humor or simply incompetence.
The worst thing is that, no matter how frustrated I am, I will have to wait months and will probably receive the same device again.

 

 

 

@Calvin.Pimax...any chance you can send a replacement headset to @Nedum and once he confirms the new one works, he sends you back the defective headset?  Clearly, Nedum's had enough bad experiences, which you could offset with some outstanding goodwill support.  

[Nedum]

@Dawgboy Thank you 

That would be the best way for me. I've got a message from the support team, they will contact me tomorrow, with a clear update and proposed plan.

And that's how the Fan of the Super Sounds:

The first file is from the old one, the second file is from the "new" one.

 

 

 

 

 

[Panzerlang]

5 hours ago, Nedum said:

@Dawgboy Thank you 

That would be the best way for me. I've got a message from the support team, they will contact me tomorrow, with a clear update and proposed plan.

And that's how the Fan of the Super Sounds:

The first file is from the old one, the second file is from the "new" one.

 

 

 

 

Sounds like somebody outside is mowing their lawn.

I figure my fans have to be working (perfectly silently) because I get zero fogging on the lenses. With the OG, at this time of year, that was a serious issue.

[Nedum]

7 hours ago, Panzerlang said:

Sounds like somebody outside is mowing their lawn.

I figure my fans have to be working (perfectly silently) because I get zero fogging on the lenses. With the OG, at this time of year, that was a serious issue.

Yea, but it's inside the Headset. 

I've got the answer from PIMAX.

They want to send me another replacement (in 3-5 weeks) and then extend the test period by or to 7 days. It's probably because of the language barrier that I don't quite understand what that means.
Quote: To address this, we'd like to arrange another replacement for you. We will extend a 7-day return window, starting from the date the new replacement unit is delivered. This gives you ample time to test the unit thoroughly.

To me, it reads more like the trial period will be shortened next time, even though the word “extended” is used.
Very “artfully” worded. It's being shortened, but they use the word “extended.” Just my kind of humor.
At least I'll get a 3-month warranty extension if I decide to keep the device after that. 

So far, I haven't been asked to pack up the old headset and send it back. At least, that's how it was last time.  Last time, the “new” headset was only sent to me, or rather the replacement process was initiated, after PIMAX had confirmation that the old headset had been received. That alone took more than a week.
I'm curious to see how long it will take this time.

But I'd also like to take this opportunity to stick up for the support team that's helping me. The guys and girls are doing a great job.  

[Panzerlang]

Sounds to me like they're not keeping an adequate stock of units ready to cover RMAs, despite the previous promises to rectify that shortcoming. 

Edited Friday at 09:28 PM by Panzerlang

[Calvin.Pimax]

On 8/8/2025 at 4:58 PM, Nedum said:

Yea, but it's inside the Headset. 

I've got the answer from PIMAX.

They want to send me another replacement (in 3-5 weeks) and then extend the test period by or to 7 days. It's probably because of the language barrier that I don't quite understand what that means.
Quote: To address this, we'd like to arrange another replacement for you. We will extend a 7-day return window, starting from the date the new replacement unit is delivered. This gives you ample time to test the unit thoroughly.

To me, it reads more like the trial period will be shortened next time, even though the word “extended” is used.
Very “artfully” worded. It's being shortened, but they use the word “extended.” Just my kind of humor.
At least I'll get a 3-month warranty extension if I decide to keep the device after that. 

So far, I haven't been asked to pack up the old headset and send it back. At least, that's how it was last time.  Last time, the “new” headset was only sent to me, or rather the replacement process was initiated, after PIMAX had confirmation that the old headset had been received. That alone took more than a week.
I'm curious to see how long it will take this time.

But I'd also like to take this opportunity to stick up for the support team that's helping me. The guys and girls are doing a great job.  

If you encounter any issues regarding the replacement, please send me a message with the ticket number.

On 8/7/2025 at 11:47 PM, Dawgboy said:

@Calvin.Pimax...any chance you can send a replacement headset to @Nedum and once he confirms the new one works, he sends you back the defective headset?  Clearly, Nedum's had enough bad experiences, which you could offset with some outstanding goodwill support.  

Thanks for the heads-up. Sorry for not replying earlier—I was away from the office but I’m back today.

[Nedum]

Hello @Calvin.Pimax,

 

thank you for contacting me.
I was unable to respond to your private message until today, as I did not have time over the weekend.
I have sent you the current ticket number via private message.
In my last message to the young lady from the support team, I wrote that I can only accept another replacement if it is actually a headset with a guaranteed new optical unit.
This message may be delaying everything! I don't know.
I am 99% sure that the last replacement wasn't a new optical unit. The fact that 5 of the 6 previously reported problems are exactly the same again, and that the third point (chromatic aberration, triple vision in 3 different colors) is less pronounced because the brightness of the displays has been reduced, is a pretty big clue for me. 

However, I did not report the seventh issue because I felt that the other six issues were more than enough.
The 7th issue was that the right display occasionally becomes slightly darker or lighter when switching from light to dark and vice versa. 

In the end, six out of seven problems remained completely unchanged, and one was mitigated. To get "another" one with all those exact issues, that's like winning the jackpot twice in a row with the exact same numbers.
I don't think I'm that lucky.  

And please don't get me wrong, if the repair is done well, I have no problem with it. Unfortunately, the last repair (I think it was one) was more than inadequate, and then there's always this endless process of troubleshooting, documenting, reporting problems, waiting for responses, repackaging, and then waiting again to see if it will be better this time.
Like everyone else here, I have to work hard for my money, and I know that mistakes are made or things don't always work like they should. No problem, I can and must live with that.
However, I expect a repair to work, especially when the delivery includes a note signed by two people stating that the headset has allegedly passed all tests.
I can say with absolute certainty that either what is written on the note is not true, or the tests are not good enough. 

I notice that I'm getting upset again, so let's stop. 

If I had the choice, I would prefer to receive a new optical unit and keep the old headset and optical unit. After the arrival of the new optical unit, I would test the new optical unit and send the old one back. That way, I would be sure that I would not end up with "another" unit that had been completely failed to repair. And if PIMAX has problems to deliver the normal 50 PPD optical units, I would even go with a wide FOV 50 PPD unit if this would fasten up the delivery and shorten my waiting.
Unfortunately, it currently looks like I won't have a fully functional headset in my hands until the end of September, almost 11 months after I placed my order. That's tough. 

 

Nevertheless, thank you for your attention and with best regards