For me the difference in clarity between DLSS Performance and Quality is immediately recognizable, I can’t stand the lack of crispness with DLSS Performance or even Balanced (at least as long as you don’t super sample in OXRT).
If you attempt using glasses in Crystal make sure your will not scratch the lenses, that are much closer to your eyes compared to G2.
I could see the differences on the G2 for sure. But less so on the Crystal.
Also trying to figure out why I’m struggling to get 40 fps, even when down sampling lower than G2’s resolution.
If I just ignore the frame rates I’ll probably be fine. But I’m caught up in trying to get the clarity back.
I would not recommend going into this advanced IPD configuration at your current stage, you probably must figure out some bigger issue which affects your Crystal clarity (lens seating, focal distance, basic manual IPD setting - not the automatic offered by Crystal, resolution cap, DLSS setting).
G2 focusing distance is much bigger compared to Crystal.
This affects only SteamVR.
Turn on the developer mode in MSFS and see what resolution it reports, default Crystal resolution for Crystal is 4312x5102.
Try disabling OXRT or reset it’s settings to make sure it’s not introducing any legacy setting from G2.
I did the reset last night and saw that in OXRTK.
It might be my focal distance. That could explain the eye fatigue I was feeling too. I always thought it didn’t matter for VR but perhaps it does.
I should be able to test if that’s the issue.
Ordering the full package with counter weight and facial spacers.
I’ll see if reading glasses improve the image I’m seeing. If so, I guess there are optional lenses to perhaps add.
My eyes are also not perfectly lined up vertically, which is why I’m curious about the advanced IPD adjustments.
I’m committed to making it work. But need to see if I can get done before return period.
Much better luck tonight. To start, I ignored the FPS counter. I also discovered I wasn’t getting in deep enough to the headset. The G2 sits up a bit higher. Getting it down lower also helped a little with some of the mass/momentum issues.
I’m still not convinced the peak clarity is up to the G2 but it’s close now. I tried with reading glasses on and if anything, it was a little worse.
I manually adjusted the IPD, and I seem happier with a value a little less than auto. However, the auto was close to what my eye doctor measured.
Observations:
It does look quite good.
Tracking is so smooth! I can see the barometer markings without them vibrating.
It’s still uncomfortable. If the Apache strap doesn’t help, I’ll need to return for that alone.
I found I was less willing to look around and move my head, especially to the side when checking traffic patterns. Hopefully the strap and counterbalance will help.
The horizontal FOV feels more constrained compared to the G2, but that may just be me not moving my head to look because of the mass. It could be a combo of the two. Given how ridiculously wide the headset is, it seems strange the FOV feels narrow.
After taking the headset off I can’t quite see correctly for a few minutes. That has never happened with any other headset before.
It’s so much brighter than the G2! Although nighttime looks too bright unless I use local diming. I always thought the sim was too dark. That was just the G2.
The Crystal trades the G2’s blurry off center for chromatic aberrations. It suffers from some of that same sweet spot hunting that happens with the G2. Just to a lesser degree.
Something to consider about all my complaints of the mass is, I’m a very fit and strong guy. 
Question:
Depending on where you bought it from - I got my direct from Pimax - their return policy is within 14 days un-opened and if not you will be charged return shipping. I had a nightmare getting my refund form them.
I share all your issues. Using a 14-900 and RTX 4090, for me it was terrible chromatic aberration’s, black tearing when turning my head left and right, I simply could not get a comfortable fit (and arguing I have to spend another x $$$ is unacceptable at this price point). I constantly felt coming from the G2 I was going backwards.
The USB hub? Yes, I have it hooked to the fiber-optic cable. Since I have a really nice, powered USB hub I tried that first. But the headset didn’t register until I used the Pimax hub. I can give it another go.
I’ve seen that after just starting up but not typically. I did hunt for it today after noticing it. But it didn’t come back. I’m used to VR taking a bit to settle down after launch.
Although it is much harder to turn my head, so I’m not doing it as much.
Did you settle on a different headset or are you still on the G2?
Who’s afraid to move his head with the Pimax on it? Yeah right.
I needed the thicker one for now since the fit for me isn’t good. The sides don’t make contact and puts heavy pressure on my nose and upper jaw. It shifts around if I move my head and makes my teeth ache. The 15 mm absorbs some of that pressure .
The Apache kit comes on Friday. It has the top strap, counterweight, and some kind of facial interface spacers. It said the spacers were specifically for the problem I’m having.
I had good luck with the Apache strap on the G2. Hopefully this will fix the issue. If not I’ll need to find another headset.
I appreciate all the help!
I do think that is the issue I’m seeing. What looks worse to me in the Crystal are hard, contrasting lines. Which are taxi signs, and lettering on cockpit buttons. I use those objects when testing image quality in the sim. The details are small enough they get lost in CA. Especially at night with the backlighting.
Larger menus also show some CA happening.
Everything else looks spectacular. It’s a very strange when some of the scenery is beautiful and then these hard, straight lines get munged up.
I hope when I get a better fit I’ll be able to reduce the CA, because with a poor fit, the CA shows up more as the headset jostles around.
While I can see some CA towards the very edges of the FoV, I can see virtually no CA in the (wide) centre. You may consider checking if your lenses are properly seated.
We used to have Almalence Digital Lens plugin which virtually eliminated the CA in the entire FoV but unfortunately the technology trial period for it is over and there is a chance (a little one) that Pimax will buy this technology from Almalence and incorporate it the headset software.
I would have considered keeping the Crystal, but when I contacted them I personally asked about Almalence prior to it being freely available, and their response was effectively “why would they pay a third party to what they could do better in-house”. Their second response was that I was effectively in the minority and that they had bigger priorities. VR is hard. Meta is subsidized. Pimax is working harder, but the MQ3 is just hard to beat, which isn’t fair at all to Pimax.
In the next year or so the will be a new HMD to beat. It could be the 12K, could be the MQPro2, who knows. At least we can say with certainty it’s NOT the AppleVision Pro.
The Crystal is a little odd in that it’s made to be a wireless headset. But 99% of its user base is racing, DCS, and MSFS. So, it’s a bit more complex than needed.
It’s got to be hard to compete with the MQ3. I’m sure that’s been discussed to death.
The hard part for me is the fit. I have to hold it with my hands to really stay in the sweet spot.
Gave that a check as well as some more experiments. The lenses seemed okay. I tried the smaller foam and I think that actually helps. Bringing the headset in a little closer lessens the inertia.
Basic conclusion from today is the headset moves around a greater amount then the sweet spot. I think the blurry vision after usage is from the pressure the headset is putting on the skin around my eyes, which is putting pressure on the eye balls. I did see a YouTube reviewer mention that.
I most definitely need a counterweight and some reshaping of the facial interface.
Once/if I can stabilize the position and comfort, I think the advanced IPD could help. The side-to-side rotation has a very small sweet spot, but when it’s spot on it’s very good. It makes the G2 sweet spot seem huge.
I’m still using the G2 but more and more I’ve been borrowing my son’s Quest 3. One of the big issues I had with the Crystal was the ability to flip up the headset to type something on screen. I would often be too hesitant as it would take me a long time to find the sweet spot and comfort I needed. Using the G2 that’s a no brainer. The Quest 3 in this area has been the best experience so far. You can keep the headset on and toggle between VR and virtual desktop without having to lift the headset, and that is a BIG plus.
