THANKS FOR NOTICING!!! I tried to research the right way to say it when I got mine and finally I get credit for it. Thanks for watching!

Absolutely! I still recommended it at the original $1990 so this is a heck of a deal IMO! Thanks for the comment.

Ya I saw that shopdh... LOL I thought to myself, ok Pimax is giving me Up To HALF back on a headset (if it is in perfect condition) and locking me into a headset that I have no idea how good it is going to be? Keep in mind you could likely sell a used Crystal for $800 all day long in the open market. No Thanks... Don't do me any favors Pimax :) Now if you are buying the Crystal because of what it is offering, that is a different story but I wouldn't buy one because of the trade-in program, no way. Just my 2 cents.

And they say wishes don't come true :) Congrats, I think you are going to love it... Now the question is will you be able to sleep with all the anticipation until then? Thanks for the comment.

Always happy to help! Here's a few more key videos of the Aero. I get lots of compliments on the review even if it is older it will still give you a good idea of what to expect from the headset. AERO REVIEW- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iNOXm7GB0dyuhZ8.html REVISITING THE HPG2- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gqxhmJyHr7-5pnU.html REVISITING THE AERO- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bdBpo92mrLfJep8.html Hope they help even more.

It would be nice to see headsets come back down in price vs. the trend of more and more expensive for sure. I doubt the 12k and Somnium VR-1 will be under $2000, but maybe other headsets after that will focus on reducing the price. I guess we will see. Thanks for watching!

Ahh the Crystal's FOV is on par with most of the other standard headsets out there IMO. I'm hoping the Somnium is amazing... I just worry about glare with that lens stack. We will see when it comes out. Thanks for the comment.

Yah I read the Crystal is about 110, and the HP G2, which I find far too narrow, is 100 degrees. So 110 doesn't sound like much increase.

@@mikem.2078I'd say yes both the Crystal and the Aero are about 10 degrees wider (horizontal fov) than the G2. Of course that is different for everyone so it might not be 110 total for you, but it will look wider than what you are used to in the G2. That 10 degrees does make a pretty big difference to me, takes it from looking like you are looking down a straw (in the G2) to more like you are wearing a helmet. Hope that makes sense?

@@mikem.2078if 110 does not sound like a big increase, how does 120 from 110? I think the issue with Somnium might be that its too late to the game. Pico 5 lineup is looking crazy if the leaks are real. Pico 5 Pro Max, 4k4k per eye, eye tracking, face tracking, dp cable at ~1k.

Crystal has switchable lenses and Pimax is working on a high FOV alternate lens.

Since my primary VR use is DCS and MSFS, I'll share my experience. Started with CV1 (then RiftS) and was hooked on VR. Got a Pimax 8KX which had awesome wide FOV but just wasn't happy with practically everything else about it. Sold it and used those funds to help offset the $2000 price of the Aero. Best HMD I've used to date, all around, including the Varjo Base software (after resolving a login issue due to a setting on my PC). The vertical FOV isn't really an issue for me in any VR title I've used so far (including Elite Dangerous). I use a surround sound system in my mancave, so the lack of headset audio isn't an issue for me. At half off, it's a sweet deal and if I didn't have one, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat. Highly recommend!

@@redtailpilot using surround sound with the aero does the surround sound direction move with your head movement? for example if you look left but while theres noise coming from the left in game wouldnt the noise come from infront of you?

@@OzzySafa In DCS and MSFS it does move with head movement, however, I'm still playing with my speaker levels to get it better. My speakers are mounted in the four corners of my room (with a center and subwoofer), but a little closer than I'd like because the room is isn't a large space. I notice the effect the most in twin engine planes in MSFS, when looking left and right.

Hey jazz_4558, sorry for the delay... I thought I replied to this but my internet did go out briefly so I had a few replies that didn't upload it seems. Just FYI, I obviously can see the limited VFOV in the Aero, but honestly it doesn't really impact the majority of my games except dogfighting. The lenses are so amazing compared to any Fresnel lens and the Horizontal FOV is better than the G2. I'd say if comfort is a big concern than the Aero is absolutely the way to go. Pimax will give you that extra VFOV but the comfort certainly isn't as good for me. Realistically you can't really lose either way, both offer an amazing experience. Just get the one that you think better fits your needs. Hope that helps.

Hey OzzySafa, yes it does move positionally with your head movements. Thanks for the question.

For sure Joe, use that HPG2 for awhile and you will learn what parts of VR are most important to you. You might be a clarity guy or you might be a large FOV guy. Time will tell. See you later in the livestreams!

Love the name speedvr! So I've never used the Quest Pro so can't really speak to that. You probably won't be as amazed as someone coming from a Quest 2 or something but still should be impressive. Personally, I wouldn't have liked the open feeling of the Quest Pro so I think the Aero will be more immersive for sure. I'd love it if you came back and let me know what you think. Appreciate the comment.

Will do mate.

Glad you liked it, just came up with it this morning right before I started filming... I guess the Muses where visiting :) Appreciate you watching my friend!

Had mine for a little over a year and couldn't agree more! That's coming from CV1, Rift-S and 8KX. My primary use is DCS and MSFS. Damn near tempted to buy it again, just so I don't miss out on the price drop...LOL 😂

what happened to your Aero that you don't have it any longer?@@redtailpilot

I couldn't agree more with everything you said here Farmer. I just think it is fantastic that we have 2 brands of headset BOTH with excellent visuals to choose from. What a great time to be a VR Enthusiast.

Absolutely! I'm honestly excited about all these HMD's that are supposed to release in the next half year. Will I replace my Aero? That would be very tough to do. But I believe all these VR HMD's releasing from now on will have something special about them with top notch clarity. It is indeed a wonderful time to be a VR enthusiast!@@GYGOtv

@@farmertrueVR I use it almost every day of the week, lol. I should have said "tempted to buy a second one" haha

Thanks for the comment, you are going to love it. Big jump up for you from those headsets. Congrats!

Bummer, that is unfortunate and doesn't make sense with Finnland being even closer to UK than it is to USA? Maybe time to move across the pond? :) Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the feedback redtail, glad you are enjoying it still. I still think it is an amazing headset even after over 2 years. I'm jelous if you get the XR-4... alas my pocket book won't allow me to get one :( I certainly hope Nvidia does fix that, I've had the same problem since I switched to the 4090 too... I thought it was just something in my system and didn't realize it was an issue for everyone. Appreciate the info!

​@GYGOtv Yeah initially I thought it was something in my system as well. However, Varjo confirmed the Nvidia driver issue in an email back in October. I'm really surprised that nothing has been done to fix this issue yet, especially with the growing popularity of the Aero. If you're curious, Varjo suggested to downgrade to version 532.03 or lower. Sure enough when I did so, the connection issue was no longer there. Strange. Oh and speaking of the XR-4, Varjo should send you one to review, because you do a great job and put in a lot of work in your reviews. You're the one who convinced me that the Aero was what I was looking for 😉

@@redtailpilotWell thank you for your confidence in my reviews, really appreciate it. My contact at Varjo is no longer there so probably won't be seeing an XR-4 anytime soon. You might have to tell me how good it is this time :)

Hi brent4770, yes the Crystal does have slightly better colors for sure. The first time I saw a sunset in it was breathtaking. But I don't think someone who can't compare A to B will really notice that difference and there are so many other factors that are bigger deals IMO. If you get that $1000 from Varjo, please let me know so I can get mine too :) Thanks for the comment.

@@GYGOtv yeah if you never had a Crystal or a Quest Pro than the colors in the Aero wont bother you. But if you have been in a HMD with better colors it will be very noticeable.

@@Killswitch1411Yep I think you are probably right. The colors didn't seem that different to me from the Aero to the Crystal as far as intensity... it was more the Crystal is "warmer" color than the Aero but I thought the Aero still looked good.

That is a great point! I think when I did the review the 120hz was not active yet in the Crystal, I certainly run mine at 120hz now that it is. I agree with you that they are very similar and I tried to point out the places I saw worthwhile differences between the two in the video. Honestly the biggest difference to me is the ability of the Crystal to do wireless eventually, otherwise I don't think I would have picked one up. Thanks for the comment!

What do you mean... The Aero comes with those AWESOME Earbuds :) jk. I agree with you, but Pimax is charging more for the DMAS on the Crystal now so its stock audio solution sucks too. I do agree with the mic, but the $599 difference can get you a pretty good audio headset for sure. The binocular overlap is certainly better on the Crystal, actually probably one of the best I've seen in any headset, but I don't really notice the Aero's when I'm gaming... but this obviously will be different for different people. Thanks for the comment

@@GYGOtv and i forgot that the colors are better on the crystal

@@metalceesie219Yes I mention the Crystal does have the best visuals in my Crystal Review ( kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iJqHlMKp3NfJd2g.html )... but its not by much. Realistically it is an amazing experience in either one IMO. Appreciate your comment and your viewpoint.

Thanks moth4648, came to me this morning right before I started filming. I guess the Muses were visiting today :) Appreciate the watch and comment!

I'd be all for it, I just can't afford another $1000 headset. I'd even try out a demo unit and send it back after the review. I don't suppose you know anyone there :) Thanks for the vote of confidence and the comment.

@@GYGOtv considering right now everyone is talking about your reviews because you are the only one posting the correct videos for the flight sim community ... They should send you a review unit like they did boosted media and the others. No I dont have one, still inquiring about less than 4090 GPU on the big screen beyond and if thats playable.

@@DrNo-xo1xuWell thank you again for the kind comment. Once things settle down a little with the Quest 3 and I catch up on some other videos in the pipeline (ahem... Motion Compensation... cough cough) I'll try reaching out to them and see if I can get a demo unit or something because several of my other viewers have asked me about it as well.

Ya for sure. I'm starting to really think the Crystal is a better buy for those who don't have any basestations and controllers just to keep it easier and in the end about the same price. At least it's not still $1990 and THEN you still have to buy those things right?

So the local dimming is certainly an advantage of the Crystal, but honestly with the bad blooming on the panels you don't really get black-blacks (see my review video if you want thru the lens of the blooming kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iJqHlMKp3NfJd2g.html ) With the Aero, you can adjust the brightness of the panels so you can get pretty close to what the Crystal does with just a little loss on the bright areas. Honestly, at 100% the Aero is very similar to the HPG2, but again you can turn that down in the Varjo Base software. Hope that helps.

Interesting... Are you sure that isn't some sort of software setting? I've not experienced that in mine, or are you talking about the text stuff on desktop? Please tell me more.

@@GYGOtv Bro, Every forum on discord is lit up and I've got statements from varjo themselves saying they know about the issue but will not fix it. If you don't notice it, maybe you shouldnt be reviewing headsets - it is the single greatest reason for Varjo having so many returns. I will provide you dozens of links and Varjo's statements if youd like.

@@GYGOtv You have experienced it, you're just not enough of an enthusiast to notice. Just Google it my man. Its even in the xr4. Being returned in droves.

Hi Twiggy, I might also recommend you look at the Quest 3 if you are on a budget. It is lighter than both and has the FOV is almost as good as the Crystal. Because you have lighthouses already, I'd probably recommend the Aero unless you really want that vertical FOV. If you do go with the Crystal, be sure to get the Lighthouse Faceplate, the inside-out tracking on it is ok but the lighthouse is MUCH better and like I said... you already have the lighthouses from your Index. Either way I think you will be amazed by the clarity of these new HMDs... it truly is the next step in VR. Please let me know if you have any other questions I can help you with and thanks for watching.

@@GYGOtv thank you for your reply. I'm not exactly 'on a budget' (now that is a luxury!) just looking to make an informed decision due to the pricetag and both HMDs have pros and cons. So I decided to watch a video on the Bigscreen Beyond VR and that sold me: lightest of the 3 and a bigger vertical FOV than the Aero. The resolution is a bit less than that of the aero but it seems it eliminates the screendoor effect just the same. Can you confirm this? The ability to carry prescription lenses is also a bonus. It adds an optional €100 to the pricetag if I decide to compensate my -1 vision. Already having the lighthouses and the controllers from the Index is nice.

@@Twiggy163Ahh yes, that might be a good fit for you too. I have never tried the BSB so I can't confirm FOV so go with what others that have used it said. I did ask them for a demo unit a while ago so I could try it and offer an educated opinion, but the company never responded to my request. The biggest things I've heard to be aware of on it are that you are locked in to the IPD so it is not a headset you can easily share with others or resell unless the buyer has your same IPD. The facial interface gets a little uncomfortable and "sticky" after a while, and with the pancake lenses you will have glare in high contrast scenes. ONE BIG PLUS is it uses OLED Screens which is awesome (I am an OLED Snob!!!) SO let me know what you think if you go that way. I don't think the lower resolution will be that big an issue and this might be the perfect headset for what you are looking for.

@@GYGOtv Well they better send you a unit for review, because I'll be watching. I haven't made up my mind just yet, exactly because of the inability to share the Bigscreen and the lack of ventilation (maybe they'll make a foam interface soon?). So the Aero is still on the table, with the Pimax now taking a backseat due to the bulkyness. I appreciate the replies!

@@Twiggy163I'd love to try the BSB... just don't have the funds to buy ANOTHER headset right now :( Again, the Aero is great except for the vertical FOV... and the Quest 3 might be a good compromise to hold you over until the next gen headsets come out? Don't forget about the Somnium VR1 too... it is getting close (but is bulky and expensive too).

For any flight/space combat I'll be using the Crystal now that I have it comfortable enough to wear. However, if anyone else comes to try VR (especially if they are new to VR), I'll likely put them in the Aero because I think it is a more pleasant experience overall. For roomscale it will be the wireless Crystal for sure. Thanks for the question.

Hi jared, what kind of games do you play? Might still be worth the upgrade for you at that price.

DCS mostly, I know the Crystal is an option, but I don't trust Pimax @@GYGOtv

I haven't had time to test that out yet. In general the Varjo Base software is considered to run very efficiently so my money would be on it... In informal playing, they both feel pretty smooth to me so I don't think one is largely better than the other, but again that is just a guess at this point. Stay tuned because I do plan to test that out down the road. Thanks for watching.

Hi DiscoverJoe, the big difference is the v.2 can use more than 2 base stations (and of course they cost more). The v.1 works just fine with the Aero so if you are just doing seated experiences you won't need more than 2. The v.2 is for big roomscale environments that take up lots of space. You obviously can choose either but ideally two v.1s is all you'd need. I will tell you that if you are on a budget, the new Quest 3 gets pretty close to what the Aero does for about half the money and without needing the basestations, just an FYI if budget is a factor for you. Thank you for using my affiliate links and watching our channel.

Thanks Jey, now that I finally got this finished I can get back to Elden Ring :)

Pimax has deeper colors. When I went back to the Aero after the Crystal it looked a little washed out in the color dept. imo ; )

@@brent4770Sure, I can agree with that... but someone trying the Aero for the first time I don't think will notice. I certainly didn't think to myself, wow the Aero colors look washed out when I tried it the first time. It was only when I went directly from one headset to the other that I noticed what you are talking about. It is a good point for others to know, so thanks for mentioning it.

@@GYGOtv Yea those words are to harsh. It was 6am lol I say the Aero colors are on par with the G2.

@@brent4770Ahh man, not too harsh at all... I didn't take it that way at all. I think it is great to have other perspectives and I appreciate the other points of view that come out of the comments. Feel free to post at 6am anytime here at GYGO. I think you are spot on with the G2 comparison with the Aero brightness at 100%. Good comparison.

I'd say probably as long as you don't mind a heavier headset. For those that don't have any lighthouses or controllers I think the Crystal is the right choice for top tier experiences. Thanks for the question.

Well I certainly hope my videos were helpful in your decision making process :) A lot of us enthusiasts already had basestations and a good gaming audio headset so the $990 is pretty close for us. I can't help with the tax and import duties but at least here in the USA we don't count that in the price, we just know we have to pay that too. I have often said that for someone coming from the G2 (or people without basestations) they might be better off with the Crystal. Now what I will say is even with my Crystal, I still use my basestations because it is better tracking than the Pimax Inside Out, so to get the best tracking you still need to buy extra stuff either way. Thanks for the comment.

That is a tough question, let me see if I can help. So does your use case fall into any of the other "recommended Crystal 2:00" categories for you other than the AMD? Are you willing to spend the money on a new video card and basestations? How important is weight and comfort over performance and maybe wireless? Let me know and I'll see if I can help you sort through this.

For sure Killswitch, if you could mix the build of the Aero (and comfort in my opinion) with the visuals of the Crystal... and then throw in the OLED displays of the Big Screen... that would be awesome wouldn't it? Please let me know what you think of the BSB if you don't mind. I'd like to know how it compares. Thanks for the comment!

Any thoughts on the BSB compared to the Aero or Crystal? I just got mine this week and im not really liking it. The oled panels are great but everything else (comfort, glare) is really disappointing me. I'll probably return it and I already placed an order for an Aero.

@@cbz3237 with some 3d print mods I got my bsb dialed in and my gasket came out really well even got the thin face pad so my eyes are closer to the lenses. Glare is for sure a disappointment. It's my biggest complaint. Aero for me is old news. Worse colors and contrast. Varjo pretty much abandoned it for their new xr-4 and lenses less than perfect in my eyes as well.

Ya, obviously the price drop of the Aero certainly helps, but again for AMD users you are probably better to look at getting a Crystal. Especially if you don't have lighthouse basestations to track with. Thanks for watching.

A question, if you will: Is the marginally lower FoV on the Aero compared to the Vive gen 1 more than made up for it with it's clarity/pixel density?

Hi pwnr439, I'm glad you didn't pull the trigger too early on this one. Now you have a choice to make, and hopefully this video helps. Don't worry about the followers, I'm so happy ANYONE watches my channel, let alone almost 3k subs!... very humbling to be sure. Remember to Like and Subscribe :)

@@pwnr439UMMM Yes, you will likely not believe your eyes coming from a OG Vive!!! Think of it like looking at an almost monitor quality image only in VR. I jumped from an HPG2 and was stunned by the difference if that tells you anything. Please do me a favor, if you are going to purchase one, I'd really appreciate you using one of our affiliate links... won't cost you anything extra and really helps the channel. Also, if you do pick a Crystal instead, we do have that $20 off coupon code. I'm kind of excited for you to try this new generation of VR, I don't think you will regret it!

Are the lighthouse necessary or just for better tracking.?

@@jazzman9103 For which headset? For the Vive and Aero yes you need them, but i hear you can use gen 1 base stations for the Aero. The crystal is standalone and base station tracking is something optional that gives better accuracy.

Great question... I really can't decide that for you but here is what I would say. The 12k is likely going to still be heavy and who knows how long until it comes out. Plus we don't know for sure how well those hybrid lenses are going to work. I generally don't count on the performance of an upcoming headset being what the company claims... I always wait until it gets tested by real people first. So the big question is how happy are you with the G2? If you are ready for an upgrade now then I don't think you will find a better value than the Aero... but also if you like dogfighting, you might be better off with a Crystal (especially if you don't have lighthouses) as long as you think the bulkiness and weight won't be an issue for you. Then you could always do the trade in program with the Crystal if the 12k turns out to be worthwhile... and if the 12k is a dud then you still have the Crystal to enjoy. If you think my advice is helpful, I'd really appreciate you using one of our affiliate links if you order either the Crystal or the Aero... it really helps out the channel. Good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions.

​@@GYGOtv thank you so much for the quick answer!! I'm finding vertical FOV values of between 65 and 77 degrees for the Aero, with the G2 reporting at 90. To be fair I'm often more focussed on BVR engagements so my head is planted firmly on the radar screen most of the time ( bad habit I know :D ) so I'll have to see if 30 degrees less is acceptable for me. Guess I have to do more head swiveling to compensate. I returned my G2 because the sweetspot seemed very small - if I looked at the HUD the radar display in the F-16 was barely readable anymore. That's where my focus lies: best image quality/ sweet spot. Also I was getting very hot very fast. I hope the Aero's fan can alleviate that. I guess that means giving the Aero a go. I can upgrade at a later point anyways. After all, you said it best when evaluating how much VR improved over the last 3 to 5 years!

If it helps you any, my FOV on the Aero with my 65IPD is 110h x 80v. Also, DCS is one of few games that take advantage of the eye tracking and DFR where you are able to get a smooth 90fps with a 4090 on high settings. I know two folks who love DCS and they both bought a Crystal but ended up going back to their Aero. If there was one game that I felt the Aero shines, it's DCS.

@@sfctw1I think you will be amazed at how well you will be able to see the instruments with the Aero. If you are doing BVR, then the smaller VFOV probably won't be as big a deal to you. It's only when you are knife fighting with another jet that it gets in the way. Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you use my affiliate link if you do decide to pick one up... it really helps us out. Thanks for watching!

@@farmertrueVRThere is just something about the visuals in the Aero that sometimes makes it look like you are looking through a glass window instead of at screens. Not sure why but I've noticed that a few times. I haven't quite got that same feeling from the Crystal yet, but then again I have hundereds of hours in the Aero vs. many less in the Crystal right now. Thanks for swinging by the comments Farmer!

Congrats on your purchase nunosantos2015. I really don't think you will need a Crystal if you have the Aero. The experience is pretty similar in both in my opinion. Enjoy the Aero until something more advanced comes along like possibly the Valve Deckard or maybe even an Aero 2! Thanks for the comment.

Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to officially test it yet but generally Varjo Base seems to run VR better than other programs. Double check your oversampling... that is the biggest killer of framerate I've seen. Mine is set to 60%, just over the native resolution of the panels and it runs really good. I plan to run some fps tests later down the road just still getting other things sorted out right now. Hope this helps.

I guess this falls under the category of "better late than never" :) To answer your question, I want basestations!!! Best tracking possible and I'm even converting my Crystal to lighthouse tracking because I love it so much. I'm hoping Varjo comes out with an Aero 2, and obviously I hope it resets the bar just like the Aero did. Finger's crossed! Thanks for watching.

@@GYGOtv It would make sense for them to come out with a new headset. I hope they say something soon. Valve Deckard is on the way.

@@talking2388I hope you are right about Deckard... been hear it is "on the way" for about 2 years now :) Got to love "Valve Time"

Great question holmstadermann. So what I really noticed is the Crystal are much "warmer" colors and they are better than the Aero, but not enough that unless you are comparing A to B that you would really notice it IMO. I wouldn't call the Aero washed out, but they are different and I think people are more noticing the difference in tones more than washed out. Both headsets give a great experience to me and I wouldn't let that color issue be the deciding factor... there are way more important differences that would impact my buying decision, but that is just my 2 cents. Thanks for watching.

@@GYGOtv Thanks for your assessment.

Hi jimnycricket2322... 10 years of enjoying flying in VR, I love it!!! As an AMD guy, the Crystal is really your only choice for these kind of visuals. Aero doesn't work with AMD so your decision is easy. I have a $20 off code and an affiliate link in the description. It won't cost you anything extra and really helps out the channel. Let me know if you have any other questions and thanks for watching.

Its a pretty good deal for sure, especially if you already have the lighthouses and controllers. I still love the Aero, but the Quest 3 is a pretty good option if you don't need eye tracking and don't mind a little less quality visuals. Thanks for the comment.

I don't have any FOV measurements, but the binocular overlap (BO) in the Crystal is probably the best I've seen in any headset. Certainly better than the Aero! The Aero is known for smaller BO but in practice I don't notice it once I'm in an experience or a sim. If you are hyper sensitive to that then the Crystal is the way to go. Great question, so thank you!

Hi alexfreeman, So for sims you can get away with a single lighthouse in front of you and it will work probably 95% of the time. You could lose tracking if you turn your head too far behind you and that is why you would want 2 if you want the best experience... but one will work if you are on a budget... you could always add the second one later if you find you are having trouble. So Lighthouses are about $135 on Amazon so with one it would be cheaper than the Crystal (links below). If you wanted controllers too it would be around the same price either way, or the Aero could be a little more if you go for the High end Index Knuckle controllers that are over $500 for just them. Hope that answers your question. Lighthouse v1 (Basestations): amzn.to/453rZU6 Index "Knucle" Controllers: amzn.to/46EkSTp or Vive Wand Controller: amzn.to/4613GHs

@@GYGOtv Hey Mark, I'd just add one thing. In my initial setup and experience, my original version 1 lighthouses were tracking very poorly with the Aero. They were great when I had the Pimax 8kx. I upgraded to the v2 (sold the v1 pair on ebay). The v2 made a world of difference in the Aero! My suggestion is to spend the extra $ and go with V2 from the start.

@@redtailpilotInteresting, my V1s have been tracking the Aero just fine... having trouble with the Crystal however. Good info for others though, thanks for the info.

@@GYGOtv Yes it's odd that some have no issues with V1s. I noticed a problem immediately, did some googling and saw others with the same issue. All of them reported much better tracking with V2s, which is what made me make the switch.

@@redtailpilotHuh, well I'll keep that in mind if I start having problems. Thanks for the heads up.

Hi brgllc201, that is a good observation and maybe as the BSB doesn't have audio like the Aero, and smaller FOV overall. I don't really consider the BSB as a headset I'd game in because of the smaller FOV and the glare in the lenses but that doesn't mean others feel the same. Great comment!

Hi SwapnilBhartiya, yes you need lighthouses to make the Aero work, the Crystal you do not. For sim racing you might be able to use a single lighthouse in front and it would work 95% of the time. You could play flatscreen games in the headset and you could adjust the virtual screen to be any size you want. Thanks for the question.

@@GYGOtv Thank you so much. I almost ordered Reverb 2 when I landed on your video. I will ONLY be playing Sim Racing games and Flatscreen (Have PSVR2 and Quest for other games), so getting one lighthouse is more than enough or what is needed for a smooth sim racing experience. Thanks for answer.

@@SwapnilBhartiyaYou are welcome. If you want to also help the channel, please order through my affiliate link ( varjo.idevaffiliate.com/111.html ). It doesn't cost you anything extra but helps out the channel. Thanks for watching

@@GYGOtv Thanks. Are two base stations enough?

@@SwapnilBhartiyaYes optimally you need 2, placed catty-corner one in front one in back.

Ya, the Crystal would likely be a better choice for you then... or just wait for the Quest 3 since you are already in that ecosystem. It is right around the corner! Thanks for the comment.

Great question, the best way I can describe it is to think of your vision as a box and basically cut the box in half and make it a rectangle and that is how limited your view gets on the Aero. It is noticeable. Another analogy would be to think about what it looks like when you wear a helmet and how you lose vertical fov in it. In most cases it's not a problem because you just move your head to see what you want to see, but it does give you a sense of claustrophobia vertically compared to the Crystal. The Crystal you can see a lot more vertically... more like that whole box that I talked about before. I hope that answers your question?

@@GYGOtv It does, thanks for the analogy. Too bad that the Aero is limited in that respect

@@boysen01I came up with a new analogy during the livestream today that I thought I'd share with you too. It's kind of like the normal view you have walking around, and then you put a baseball cap on and can't see up anymore, that is kind of how the VFOV on the Aero feels. Hope that helps explain it better.

@@GYGOtv Thanks again, gotta watch that. I come from a headtracking solution (think TrackIR) so I am used to moving my head a bit to "look up". But head tracking multiplies your move, so if I look up physically 5 degrees, it will look up for me in-game by 45. Anyway, I am contemplating the Aero or the Quest 3, both seem like great choices for the moment

@@boysen01Yep I am very familiar with TrackIR, used it a lot before I got heavy into VR.

Well the good headphones (DMAS) cost extra now and the stock ones sound like crap so I'll give points to the Crystal for the Mic but that is about it. Also, Pimax standalone mode isn't worth the time to type this IMO. I doubt that store will last except for maybe in China. They just aren't going to be able to compete with Meta for quality titles. But we will see. Thanks for the comment.

Yep its a tough balance not to go too long but try to be complete. I only really mention the differences to keep it concise, for example visually there really isn't much of a difference other than the VFOV, no real glare in either and dynamic foveated rendering wasn't activated yet so that will come later. That was why I said I'd start this as a series and talk about a specific feature of the headset, that way I can keep them shorter for those that like that but also try to cover more of the features as they become available. I hope that works even if it is not right away. And remember, you can always ask specific questions if you have them and I'll do my best to answer them. Thanks for watching and your feedback, it is appreciated.

@@GYGOtv Thank you for your reply, i'm a bit confused then, so Crystal will only activate certain features through updates? I thought the foveated rendering was already working, also didn't understand how the standalone thing will work, you will also need to buy it as an extra? If that is the case when will a neck brace come if they keep adding hardware? :P

@@P3d3r0s0LOL I like the neck brace comment. So "Foveated Rendering" is different from "Dynamic Foveated Rendering", Foveated just blurs the edges of the screen and Dynamic tracks where you are looking and blurs around that spot (so you don't even notice it). Foveated Rendering has been in there since launch but is a waste of a feature because you can see it when you look to the sides. Dynamic FR just got activated right after I did the video so I hadn't tested it yet. Crystal basically released the headset in "beta" with updates coming frequently after it got out there. I think most features are good now with the headset but lots more modules like the wireless, finger tracking etc. are still to come. As for the standalone, it is already built in and you buy the software through the Pimax store but I have no interest and no plans to cover it because this isn't the headset for stand alone. Pimax will never have the library of quality games like the Quest ecosystem. If you want stand alone, go with the Quest 3! Hope that clears things up and thanks for watching.

@@GYGOtv Thank you, that helped a ton, maybe this information might be also good for you to add on a next video, or maybe i'm the only one this ignorant. I feel the same way about the standalone software in the Pimax store, but wouldn't it be worth using it (probably free apps) for stuff like 3d movies or just regular movies to watch in bed or something?

@@P3d3r0s0Glad to help, and I do plan to redo my "Buyers Guide" video at the end of the year where I will likely talk about this stuff in more detail. It will probably be a longer form video like you like so stay tuned for that. As for Stand Alone, no not worth my time... I don't think you will want to watch movies in this headset, it is just too heavy and bulky to be relaxing with. I'm sure there will be lots of other people covering stand alone and to be honest my time is too valuable with too many other videos I want to make to waste time on such a stupid feature. Appreciate you taking the time to comment and hope to hear more from you in the future, viewer feedback is always welcome here at GYGO!

Hi janjo, yes I guess in England you are use to having the total price with VAT etc? Here in the US we are use to it being retail price and having to add the tax after so not as big a shock to us here. Apparently Finland is similar to the US? Anyway good point, thanks for mentioning it.

@@GYGOtv In all Europe prices are given with VAT, which is between 20 to 25%, except for prices for professionals. I do not think it is the law, just usual practice.

@@jango71Wow, I'll quite bitching about our 10% here in the states then. OUCH!

Thanks for the comment ryanbarbosa, I get how you feel about the audio... I love off Ear myself and hate having to put on the headset and then the earphones, but come on $300 for an Aero is ridiculous to expect... that is less than the new Quest 3! The good news for anyone thinking about the Aero is that you can put aftermarket audio on and it will fit and not interfere with the headstrap. Obviously you are welcome to your opinion but I have heard from a lot of people that they prefer their own audio solution anyway. I certainly hope the Aero 2 has off ear audio, but we will see.

@GYGOtv I'm not taking away from the visual that you get from the areo I've been told that it's extremely high quality. However for a top of the line headset to not have audio and ask top dollar is an insult. Obviously that comes down to user preference. Honestly ide be fine with them having an option for audio or no audio. It's 2023 adding audio is well should be a basic addition at this point. To be completely honest with you I'm rocking the g2 and it's fine but I've been looking at that pimax crystal sim setup and it's tempting.

@@ryanbarbosa3220I hear what you are saying, but I've had lots of other people comment they are happy it doesn't have audio because they want to use their own audio headset. I actually agree with you that I'd like to have audio attached as well but that is a simple fix and not a deal breaker for others. Maybe that is a deal breaker for you, but for those that don't care, the headset is an amazing value at $990 IMO. If you don't mind the weight, the Pimax would likely amaze you with the visuals and is probably the right answer coming from the G2... and for an extra $100 you can get the DMAS audio that I think you are looking for.

@@GYGOtv You've pretty much nailed it. If you're looking for a dealbreaker, you can use the lack of audio, need for base stations and FOV to justify not spending 1k (2k for the rest of us lol). But if you're looking for the best visual clarity, comfort, ease of use and overall quality, then those things become nothing but minor issues that you're more than willing to cope with. In DCS and MSFS (my primary uses for VR) this thing is incredible! I have absolutely zero regrets getting it a little over a year ago! At half off now, I'd jump on that in a heartbeat. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, IMO.

@@redtailpilotI couldn't agree more... thanks for backing me up, nice to know I'm not crazy sometimes :)

Hi valrond, you might reach out to Varjo and tell them the situation. I don't know if they will price match, but they are a REALLY good company so might be worth a shot if you just got your Aero. Good luck!

@@GYGOtv Thanks, I just did. The thing is, for two days (I received it on sept 4th, I had 14 days to return it, so until the 18th, and they put the offer on the 20th) I didn't get to do it "legally". Maybe they will return something. I don't know. I wouldn't complain if I had bought the headset when it came out two years ago, I had gotten my moneys worth, but I have used it like 5 days, 600€ lost is a tough pill to swallow.

@@valrondfor sure... let me know how it goes. I've always had great luck with Varjo Customer Support, so I'd say there is a chance they will do something. Heck even if they refunded you 300 it would be something. Please keep me posted.

@@GYGOtv Well, I just received news for them and they are doing a full refund for the difference in price, which is amazing. I was hoping for a partial refund, like those 300€ that would have been nice, but 600€? Man, this is a really good company.

YEP, that is what I'm using! Thanks for watching.

Hi zacheryhardy, That is the great thing about the Pimax Crystal. When you factor in buying lighthouses for the Aero, it basically comes to the same price and gives you a very similar experience. Thanks for the comment.

@@GYGOtv after taxes the crystal is 2000 with the light house plate. I upgraded from an index and already have lighthouses.

@@zackeryhardy9504Well unfortunately like you mention, Aero is a no go with AMD and I don't think that will change, so to have these high end visuals Pimax is really your only choice right now. Maybe wait for the Somnium VR-1... but I think that thing is going to cost $2000 minimum. One thing I would mention is the Aero does a pretty good job maximizing performance so maybe look for a used 3080 or something if you really want to try an Aero? You could also think about a Big Screen Beyond but with the smaller FOV, I'm not sure I'd consider it in the same category as the Aero or Crystal. Wish I could help more but that is all I can think of right now.

Yes, but honestly after seeing the blooming in the Crystal I can kind of understand why. I still wish they would turn it on, but it is not as big a loss as I thought it was. You can get close to the same effect just adjusting the brightness in the Varjo Base software. WE NEED OLED SCREENS!!! Thanks for watching.

I'm still happy with paying $1999, I got almost 2 years of an unmatched VR experience. Now if I'd bought it on Sept. 19th of this year I'd probably feel a lot different :) Thanks for the comment!

Um... seems perfectly normal to me :) Maybe I need help too?

Well I respectfully disagree with your assessment. You make it sound like no other company ever lowers the price of their product after it has been in the market for awhile and that simply isn't the case. Unless you work for Varjo (which I doubt) you have no idea what the production cost was or if they were suddenly overstocked and wanted to move the Aero out or IF they even had to sell the Aero at a loss when they lowered the price just to clear out inventory due to the Crystal and other headsets coming into the market. Your assumption that Varjo "lied" has no proof other than your assumption. What I can tell you for a fact is that I've had a lot of interactions with the company and they have always been very professional and transparent with me. The other thing I have to say is that Varjo mostly operates in the Business to Business world and if you "lie" to those customers you generally won't stay in business for long. Varjo didn't lower the price until 2 years after the release of the Aero and as an "early adopter" myself, I hardly feel like they "pulled the leg" out from under me. I was more glad they were able to... and chose to lower the price so others could get one for themselves. In the end Varjo (or any other company for that matter) doesn't owe you a product that is just above what it costs to make it... Businesses charge what they think people are willing to pay and then it is up to you as a customer to decide if it is worth it to you. It sounds like it wasn't in your case, but for other people (like myself) it was.

@@GYGOtv by all respect, I do know prices of major components for VR products, and I can assure you that even now Varjo is highly profitable with the Aero (production costs being very south of 400€). So Im pretty confident to say that Varjo was ripping off the customers, to be fair no one forced them to buy. Except the "guerilla" marketing Varjo used at the launch, and yes I had the opportunity to read all the guidelines and NDAs reviewers had to sign and follow when the Aero was launching. So yes, Varjo lied in their advertising, a lot...

@@madigorfkgoogle9349Well you are certainly entitled to your opinion... I'm glad you are so knowledgeable about how cheap you can get those components... maybe you should build you own and sell them at cost to people like you want Varjo to do? What you might be forgetting in your calculation is that most companies have to roll in Research and Development costs into the overall price. MAYBE, just maybe after 2 years of sales of the Aero, those costs were recouped and that helped Varjo lower the price as well. Anyway, it just sounds like you just don't like Varjo and there is nothing I'm going to say to change that, which is fine. I just REALLY have an issue with someone calling a company a "liar" when I know from my experience they are a good company and care about their customers as much, or maybe more than most other companies do, and I don't want others to get the wrong impression from someone who obviously is on a mission to hurt the company.

@@GYGOtv that is not the argumentation Varjo or youtube promoters of Aero used at he launch. And no, Varjo is a B2B company that used its R&D to produce inferior cheap to manufacture product for B2C market, no there was no excessive cost for R&D to make Aero happen. In fact one of the Varjo marketing "lies" if you might remember, was that after youtubers testing the XR-3 and asking intensive for a similar consumer product, Varjo has done something incredible and in just 2 months created production ready consumer oriented Aero... And now you are want to make anyone clear that there were huge R&D costs that Vajo had to count in the price of Aero at the first year, and now magically they could break even and cut the price in half? You are really joking, dont you. Do you have at least a distant image of how R&D and production works? I doubt that... BTW, why do you fight so hard for this company? Are you one of the youtubers who took part in the marketing campaign? And if I call someone liar, then it might be he is a liar. Or do you suggest that the Aero was created from scratch to the shipping ready product (OK the software was not really polished) in just two moths? Varjo was lying in their campaign, so yes Im confident at calling them liars. Your turn.

Well you are certainly welcome to your opinion alexsp7086, and no headset might be worth over $1600 to you... but some of use feel differently and will pay for cutting edge visuals. I can tell you that the Aero WAS worth $1990 to me and I had no regrets paying that much. To each their own and thanks for the comment.

When will it be?

Hi Lakedistrictrider... well isn't that better than 2660 Euros like it would have been last week? Honestly I think if you don't have basestations, etc. the Crystal might be a better purchase, but if you already do have all those things then the Aero is a heck of a bargain IMO. Good news is the Quest 3 is right around the corner and it will be $499, so that might be a better value for some. Thanks for commenting.

Of course, but it was a bit of a surprise when I was looking on their website to potentially purchase and discovered that taxes were on top. Just commented so people can see the actual price it will cost them, not a criticism. I've since read about the Aero fov being really small, which is disappointing. I'? Also unsure of the Crystal's weight and battery situation, which is putting me off. I'm primarily an IL2 player, will the weight be an issue checking 6 a lot?. There just doesn't seem to be a perfect headset. The Aero looks fantastic, build quality and a decent weight, but lacks fov and inside out tracking. The Crystal is too bulky, heavy and has strange battery design limiting flight time. But good fov and image quality. Quest 3 will be interesting but still narrow horizontal fov and maybe not good enough image quality. Pico 5 roadmap has just leaked apparently. The 5 pro max could be interesting.

@@LakedistrictriderInteresting, taxes are always on top of the retail price where I am, so I'm used to that. IL2 was the game I noticed the limited Vertical FOV of the Aero the most, so if you are like me you would be better off with a Crystal as long as you don't mind the weight and bulk. It certainly can move around on your head a bit, but it wasn't too bad once I got that Apache Strap on it (hopefully you have watched my full review kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iJqHlMKp3NfJd2g.html ). Horizontal view was about the same for me in both and that Battery isn't an issue at all on the Crystal. I played for 3 hours and it only dropped a single bar on the battery (out of 5) so I think the battery would last 8 hours plus easily. Not sure what headset you are coming from, but the visuals of these new ones is stunning in flight sims and racing. Thanks for the reply and I hope this helps.

Cheers pal, I'm in the UK and prices are normally stated as retail with tax included. I'm coming from a Quest 2 and looking for better visuals. The Crystal seems the better of the two options, especially with the Apache 👍

@@LakedistrictriderHoly cow, coming from a Quest 2, you will be amazed at the difference. I'd agree the Crystal is probably the best option for you too. Remember I have a $20 discount code in the description if you want to use it. Really appreciate the back and forth, always great to interact with my viewers. Please let me know how you like the Crystal once you get it!

Really? Must be the time change :) I can't imagine it won't get adjusted... are you looking on the Varjo website or going through some distributor?

Actually Flight Sims are usually more demanding than Race Sims. As long as your doing a seated experience you should be good 95% of the time with 1 lighthouse. You only really need 2 if you are doing roomscale stuff. Thanks for being so active on the channel mike, I really appreciate it.

Yep, so that makes your decision easy right? Of course that $1000 savings could go to a new GPU? Anyway thanks for the comment.

Hey kangjames, always great to get your perspective. We just disagree because the Crystal was a Pain in the Ass to get comfortable for me. I do love the Large Vertical FOV, but everything else is pretty much equal to me (except build quality like you say) so I'd rather have the lighter hmd over that bulky brick on my face. Plus again I love that face fan in the Aero so I don't think 9 out of 10 is how I'd rate the Crystal. I do appreciate your view however and I think your opinion will be valuable for others to see so thank you for the comment.

the crystal looks too clunky and heavy for myself, I will be in roomscale most of the time when in VR and playing fast paced games with lots of movement(think beat saber). And even then I was going to go with the crystal for the other features and price comparison to the aero BEFORE this 50% cut was out. Now I think its a no brainer for the aero over the crystal for my use case

@@pwnr439As long as you don't mind being tethered... I personally can't do the wire leash anymore so I'll just get ready to have a black and blue nose from the Crystal smashing into it as I play. O'well sacrifices must be made I guess. Thanks for watching!

@@GYGOtv Have you tried a ceiling mounted pulley system for those wires? I sympathize with your issues about the wire but I hear that the pulleys make it a lot more bearable. Note that I haven't tried this myself so it's more like hearsay. Either way the headset itself(Aero) looks more ergonomically pleasing than the crystal for moving around lots.

@@pwnr439I have pulleys on my motion rig setup, but for roomscale I don't want to mess with getting tangled up, which can happen even with a pulley system. Besides, I have the Crystal now so I'll just wait for the wireless module to come out and I'll be all set.