I got the crystal light about a week and a half ago. I am coming from an index. I bought a quest 3 and gave it a full run through for about three weeks, returned it and ordered the light. I just cant do inside out tracking or deal with the latency and image quality of steaming to the headset. The Crystal Light is THE upgrade for an index user. Its fantastic. Surprisingly close to OLED. Dmas are a must. Stock audio is the absolute worst I have ever heard.
Hot tip for low audio. If using Nvidia GPU there is long standing bug in audio driver which lowers the preamplifier stage by -6. Recommended "Equalizer APO" can adjust preamplifier stage + to suit, used this on Index and Crystal+Dmas with 3 generation Nvidia GPU. BMR speakers benefit from the increase in sound power truly come alive. Thoroughly enjoyed the review 👻
I've heard of that. I don't THINK that's what's going on here because I've heard a few people complain about the audio on the SMAS and virtually every headset I've used, both VR or otherwise, has felt plenty loud and I've almost never needed to run it at 100% volume, with 1-2 exceptions I've always been lower than 50%, but it's something I'll try. If anyone else tries this and has it work, do share!
@@Omniwhatever difference in impedance between the stock audio and the Dmas? Found Equalizer preamplifier tweak made the Dmas on my Crystal really impressive
Based on current things I've heard/seen Pimax say and if all goes well, end of year doesn't sound like too much of a pipe dream. Though, I'm conservatively thinking more like end of year a few samples go out to external beta testers and/or reviewers, then perhaps January/Early February most normal orders start getting units.
I know that nobody asked me, so feel free to ignore :) But based on pure gut feeling I would guess the Crystal Super comes out sometime in 2025, with the OLED panels being significantly delayed after release.
Great review, I've had my light for a few months now and it is excellent. If the lenses were a bit better and the size was a bit smaller I would say its perfect for me. The super seems to help with both lenses and size so I will probably buy one and sell my crystal light when it comes out.
Wow, such great to see your review. I forgot how bad the mic sound, since I got the crystal light, the OG is just laying here....maybe I should give the og crystal some new love....
Good review. I agree with you that audio (SMAS) and microphone are completely flawed in the Light. It is definitely so bad for social VR, people will need to get a Bluetooth microphone and speakers from Amazon
Modmic wireless is a pretty good microphone replacement for VR. Not as good as some wired options you can get, but it's still pretty good and only beaten by the current best ones while having great convenience due to the wireless. Know a number of VR content creators who use it for recording during gameplay. Little bit expensive though.
You're the most thorough VR UA-camr, thank you. I have an 8KX currently, there really is something I enjoy about the wide FOV, but I've been considering the Crystal. Only bummer is I have a hand tracking module and kind of tied that into DCS to have my virtual hands in VR track my SIMpit. I wish the Crystal light could use the hand tracking module.
I haven't had my IPD measured by an optometrist so there's an *, but using Glasses On I always got around 67.5-68.5mm or so, and after fiddling around with numerous VR headsets I've had 67-68mm always feel "right" and the auto-IPD on the Crystal's eye tracking put me around there too depending on the facepad. So, I'd say it's at least reasonably close or a good starting point to fiddle around with +/- 2mm from.
I love the Crystal Light which I have. I used to have the Reverb G2 which is nowhere near as good. I don't have the D-mas upgrade audio pods, and would not use them if they were free. I think there is a better solution for any VR headset. The same teeny tiny bluetooth ear pods that people with Ipods use. They are less cumbersome than having two arms hanging down on the built in audio (like I had with the stock Reverb G2). When I remove the headset and go putter around on the computer, I forget I have the pods on an walk away from the computer and go down stairs before I remember to take them out. And by the way, the audio through my Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is way better than the sound through the excellent G2. No sound solution that is on ear can match a good in ear device for frequency response fidelity and lack of distortion. But there are many choices in bluetooth earpods.
Would be interested to hear your take if you got a Bigscreen Beyond and compared it against the Crystal Light. I ran Pimax headsets for years including the Crystal and moved to the Bigscreen Beyond myself. The main thing that drove me to it was frustration with all the bugs, reliability problems, and general hair pulling of Pimax products. Beautiful displays, but you suffer for them. I was tired of suffering. By its specs, I expected the Beyond to be a downgrade, but maybe it would be less buggy. The Beyond turns out to be rock stable with excellent customer service behind it. And as for the display, it's almost as good as Crystal. Closer than I expected. Better in same ways, worse in others. The audio in the Beyond (both microphone and speakers) is much better than the Crystal Light. Even better than the Valve Index, actually. And all that is even before considering the massive size and weight difference between the Beyond and the Crystal Light. The amount of punch this tiny headset has is wild. It's not just powerful for its size, it's powerful period. Pretty much if you want to graduate from the Quest 3 to a higher end headset, I think the only real considerations right now are the Pimax Crystal Light or Bigscreen Beyond. And soon maybe the Somnium VR1.
Very informative video! In your opinion: I have a Quest 3 and I use the link cable for use with flying and racing sims. Would you recommend upgrading to the pimax crystal light? I want more clarity on gages
Very good summary and review, thanks. I want one but I can’t afford it unfortunately. I have a Quest 3 now but a bit disappointed with it (it’s buggy and needs to restart all the time and biggest downside is colors and blacks). Would a PSVR2 + PC adapter be a downgrade/sidegrade/upgrade in your opinion? Usecase is mostly sim racing, some sim flying and some VR gaming.
Honestly, the PSVR2 was incredibly disappointing for me and I could only rec if it you value colors and contrast ratio, which is still blunted by how bad the MURA IS, over literally almost everything else that makes a good VR experience. I got a PSVR2+PS5 for slightly more than the price of a brand new PSVR2 at MSRP and I still am not sure if it was worth it. I'd just save your money. I don't think it's better than a Quest 3 unless you religiously play horror games or your wireless setup is completely cursed and unable to function. Or you hate the Zuck.
the displayed, physical and reported IPD don't match for me, I have to offset manually by doing the controller thingy than checking by rotating my head to see if it rotates correctly or my ipd is off
You can finish the video to know my full indepth thoughts if you want. It hasn't even been up long enough to finish. It's a mostly good headset with some cons to be mindful of.
Somnium VR1 base model: $2116 with no controllers. 35 PPD. 2880 x 2880. FOV 120 (claimed). *Same display panel as Crystal. PCL with local dimming: $899 or $799 with no controllers. 35 PPD. 2880 x 2880. 103 FOV (tested independently).
I got the crystal light about a week and a half ago. I am coming from an index. I bought a quest 3 and gave it a full run through for about three weeks, returned it and ordered the light. I just cant do inside out tracking or deal with the latency and image quality of steaming to the headset. The Crystal Light is THE upgrade for an index user. Its fantastic. Surprisingly close to OLED. Dmas are a must. Stock audio is the absolute worst I have ever heard.
Hot tip for low audio. If using Nvidia GPU there is long standing bug in audio driver which lowers the preamplifier stage by -6. Recommended "Equalizer APO" can adjust preamplifier stage + to suit, used this on Index and Crystal+Dmas with 3 generation Nvidia GPU. BMR speakers benefit from the increase in sound power truly come alive. Thoroughly enjoyed the review 👻
I've heard of that. I don't THINK that's what's going on here because I've heard a few people complain about the audio on the SMAS and virtually every headset I've used, both VR or otherwise, has felt plenty loud and I've almost never needed to run it at 100% volume, with 1-2 exceptions I've always been lower than 50%, but it's something I'll try. If anyone else tries this and has it work, do share!
@@Omniwhatever difference in impedance between the stock audio and the Dmas? Found Equalizer preamplifier tweak made the Dmas on my Crystal really impressive
When do you think the Crystal Super will come out? That's the one I'm really interested in.
Based on current things I've heard/seen Pimax say and if all goes well, end of year doesn't sound like too much of a pipe dream. Though, I'm conservatively thinking more like end of year a few samples go out to external beta testers and/or reviewers, then perhaps January/Early February most normal orders start getting units.
I know that nobody asked me, so feel free to ignore :) But based on pure gut feeling I would guess the Crystal Super comes out sometime in 2025, with the OLED panels being significantly delayed after release.
The best visuals you can get in VR without breaking your neck *
Great review, I've had my light for a few months now and it is excellent. If the lenses were a bit better and the size was a bit smaller I would say its perfect for me. The super seems to help with both lenses and size so I will probably buy one and sell my crystal light when it comes out.
Wow, such great to see your review. I forgot how bad the mic sound, since I got the crystal light, the OG is just laying here....maybe I should give the og crystal some new love....
Thanks for the review. Waiting for mine to come.
Awesome video! I think you nailed everything, totally agree.
Good review. I agree with you that audio (SMAS) and microphone are completely flawed in the Light. It is definitely so bad for social VR, people will need to get a Bluetooth microphone and speakers from Amazon
Modmic wireless is a pretty good microphone replacement for VR. Not as good as some wired options you can get, but it's still pretty good and only beaten by the current best ones while having great convenience due to the wireless. Know a number of VR content creators who use it for recording during gameplay.
Little bit expensive though.
You're the most thorough VR UA-camr, thank you. I have an 8KX currently, there really is something I enjoy about the wide FOV, but I've been considering the Crystal. Only bummer is I have a hand tracking module and kind of tied that into DCS to have my virtual hands in VR track my SIMpit. I wish the Crystal light could use the hand tracking module.
Thanks for the honest review. Just wondering if the Glasses On app is accurate for ipd? 🤔
I haven't had my IPD measured by an optometrist so there's an *, but using Glasses On I always got around 67.5-68.5mm or so, and after fiddling around with numerous VR headsets I've had 67-68mm always feel "right" and the auto-IPD on the Crystal's eye tracking put me around there too depending on the facepad. So, I'd say it's at least reasonably close or a good starting point to fiddle around with +/- 2mm from.
I love the Crystal Light which I have. I used to have the Reverb G2 which is nowhere near as good.
I don't have the D-mas upgrade audio pods, and would not use them if they were free.
I think there is a better solution for any VR headset. The same teeny tiny bluetooth ear pods that people with Ipods use. They are less cumbersome than having two arms hanging down on the built in audio (like I had with the stock Reverb G2). When I remove the headset and go putter around on the computer, I forget I have the pods on an walk away from the computer and go down stairs before I remember to take them out. And by the way, the audio through my Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is way better than the sound through the excellent G2.
No sound solution that is on ear can match a good in ear device for frequency response fidelity and lack of distortion.
But there are many choices in bluetooth earpods.
Would be interested to hear your take if you got a Bigscreen Beyond and compared it against the Crystal Light.
I ran Pimax headsets for years including the Crystal and moved to the Bigscreen Beyond myself. The main thing that drove me to it was frustration with all the bugs, reliability problems, and general hair pulling of Pimax products. Beautiful displays, but you suffer for them. I was tired of suffering.
By its specs, I expected the Beyond to be a downgrade, but maybe it would be less buggy. The Beyond turns out to be rock stable with excellent customer service behind it. And as for the display, it's almost as good as Crystal. Closer than I expected. Better in same ways, worse in others.
The audio in the Beyond (both microphone and speakers) is much better than the Crystal Light. Even better than the Valve Index, actually.
And all that is even before considering the massive size and weight difference between the Beyond and the Crystal Light. The amount of punch this tiny headset has is wild. It's not just powerful for its size, it's powerful period.
Pretty much if you want to graduate from the Quest 3 to a higher end headset, I think the only real considerations right now are the Pimax Crystal Light or Bigscreen Beyond. And soon maybe the Somnium VR1.
Very informative video! In your opinion: I have a Quest 3 and I use the link cable for use with flying and racing sims. Would you recommend upgrading to the pimax crystal light? I want more clarity on gages
Good video. Can you tell me how the Pimax Crystal together with the Audeze Maxwell sits on your head? and can you also make a review video of it?
nah bruh i was wrong about the crystal being a flop but WHERE IN THE F IS THE 12KX????? You can still trade in a 8kx, right??? ahahaha
Great in depth review
This guy definitely has the script of the video displayed on the screen of the headset 😂😂😂
OMG I see an 0K headset
It'll always have a special place of honor. I loved that April Fool's joke.
hahhaha...very good. One user said "Pimax knows you, so you always get the "better" hardware" ....:D
Very good summary and review, thanks. I want one but I can’t afford it unfortunately. I have a Quest 3 now but a bit disappointed with it (it’s buggy and needs to restart all the time and biggest downside is colors and blacks). Would a PSVR2 + PC adapter be a downgrade/sidegrade/upgrade in your opinion? Usecase is mostly sim racing, some sim flying and some VR gaming.
Honestly, the PSVR2 was incredibly disappointing for me and I could only rec if it you value colors and contrast ratio, which is still blunted by how bad the MURA IS, over literally almost everything else that makes a good VR experience. I got a PSVR2+PS5 for slightly more than the price of a brand new PSVR2 at MSRP and I still am not sure if it was worth it.
I'd just save your money. I don't think it's better than a Quest 3 unless you religiously play horror games or your wireless setup is completely cursed and unable to function. Or you hate the Zuck.
Do you find the IPD settings in the Crystal match your IRL IPD or do you have to offset it a bit?
the displayed, physical and reported IPD don't match for me, I have to offset manually by doing the controller thingy than checking by rotating my head to see if it rotates correctly or my ipd is off
Do you use exactly the same ipd value on crystal light as the normal crystal measure you?
I do and everything felt good there. It's the exact same optical stack, so no surprises there though.
man pimax is a mess.
Are you Sure. I need you to be sure.
You can finish the video to know my full indepth thoughts if you want. It hasn't even been up long enough to finish.
It's a mostly good headset with some cons to be mindful of.
depends on where you live. if average wage under 500usd, you might need to break a bank
Crystal is just okay-ish. After you see the Somnium vr1 there is no going back
idk I rather wait for SomniumVR2 with better specs than PCL
With or without the NVidia sharpening?
@@DasJev Somnium vr2 will be released 2029 I can't wait so long . Vr1 is already epic from what I've seen at somnium Connect
@@Nobody-Nowhere both
Somnium VR1 base model:
$2116 with no controllers.
35 PPD. 2880 x 2880.
FOV 120 (claimed).
*Same display panel as Crystal.
PCL with local dimming:
$899 or $799 with no controllers.
35 PPD. 2880 x 2880.
103 FOV (tested independently).