It really is quite the improvement from a Rift S to a Quest 2?

[E69_nikit]

I wanted to make a query in case any of here had the opportunity to go from Rift S to Quest 2, it is noticeable improvement in terms of sharpness given the higher resolution of the Quest 2 or it simply does not compensate the expense to have little improvement with respect to the Rift S?It does not matter to me if I have to use the cable or via Wi-Fi.

 

My PC is a Ryzen 5600X, 2080TI, 32 Ram.

 

Sorry if there are any errors in the text, I am using an automatic translator and it may not have been translated completely well.

[Todt_Von_Oben]

I've been flying FC1 with a Rift; it wasn't bad but the screen door effect and blurriness left room for improvement.

 

So we bought the Quest 2 and tonight I got it working in SP and MP via the Oculus Link using Steam.

 

Yes, the image is clearer and the screen-door effect was not as noticeable; but honestly, the difference really wasn't all that much.  If I had to quantify it with a number: the Quest 2 image is maybe about 10% sharper and maybe 5% brighter than the Rift?  Just my guesstimate.

 

But the headstrap and headphones on the Quest 2 absolutely SUCK compared to the Rift.  They are small and positioned too far forward; I can barely hear them at full volume.  If I cup my hand over it (or tape a cardpaper deflector over the earphone speaker) I can hear it just fine.  The volume seems okay but there's no way to slide the ear speaker further aft to deliver the noise straight into the ear canal; which is what I (and apparently others) need.  They sell solutions for this problem: different straps and headphones.  I don't feel like spending more money on it; those things aren't cheap.  

 

I'm still working on dialing in the Q2 settings but in general I'd say, "The video is a little better but not a whole lot; and the audio is much worse."  

 

Many people like to complain online and i try not to be one of them but in this case I've gotta say, "If you have a Rift or Rift S you might not be terribly impressed with the Quest 2 for use with IL2 FC.  I'm not; and I'm usually pretty easily pleased."

 

I'll keep using it but I don't feel strong about recommending it to others.  

 

I already want something with a wider field of vision.  I'm  hoping we'll see something better in the coming year.

 

Caveat emptor but good luck.  I don't think you'll be unhappy with a Q2; just maybe not as happy as you're expecting to be.  that's how it went for us.

 

Prosit!  

 

 

[Goffik]

From what I gather, the improvement when running games from your PC is barely noticeable and probably not worth it if clarity is your only reason for upgrading. If a better picture is what you want then you'd probably be better served going for a genuine upgrade to one of the latest non-Oculus headsets, though they are obviously more expensive. Bear in mind also that any increase in quality is likely to come with a performance reduction.

 

Edit:

Ninja'd by Todt. ?

Edited July 25, 2021 by Goffik

[E69_nikit]

Thanks for commenting, I have been trying to find opinions on the net and most of the old users of the Rift S say that there is some improvement but perhaps not so much to compensate for the expense in a Quest 2, as you say, the change would be noticed with some another solution other than Oculus or wait for a generation change of VR glasses.

[Todt_Von_Oben]

I just went back and tried it a few more times at Flugpark trying different settings: from Low to Ultra; experimenting with different levels of anti-aliasing and so on.  

 

Compared to SP Duels, MP Flugpark image "swims" and "smears" a lot more when I'm maneuvering or looking around.  No idea why but looking into it from my side.

 

Experimenting with settings improved it somewhat but I still had it better my Rift.  Will keep experimenting with the Graphics settings.  

 

I hear ya about there being better (and wider) headsets than Oculus.  My next one will probably be one of those.  

 

Meanwhile, I sure hope I can get more out of the Quest 2 than I am at present or I might as well go back to my Rift.  It was actually easier to see with the Rift at FP last time I flew it there; than it was with the Q2 tonight.

 

Still pretty optimistic I can get more out of the Q2, though.  Working...  

[Goffik]

The "smearing" is usually down to you're HMDs ability to keep up with the game. ASW essentially creates extra frames to keep things smooth and prevent sickness. (This is a grossly simplified way of explaining it, but there are plenty of resources available for those who want the nitty-gritty.) It works great in static or slow moving images, not so much when things are moving fast like in a combat flight sim. More "smearing" would indicate that your HMD isn't keeping up with the game as well.

 

On the Quest this could be for a couple of reasons. One is that it has a higher native resolution than the Rift S, so requires a bit more processing power to run. The other is that I've heard it has slightly higher latency due to not being a dedicated PC-connected HMD like the Rift S. If it happens more in MP than SP, then it's probably because your PC is working harder when playing online than offline, leaving less power for processing your HMD.

[Todt_Von_Oben]

4 hours ago, Goffik said:

The "smearing" is usually down to you're HMDs ability to keep up with the game. ASW essentially creates extra frames to keep things smooth and prevent sickness. (This is a grossly simplified way of explaining it, but there are plenty of resources available for those who want the nitty-gritty.) It works great in static or slow moving images, not so much when things are moving fast like in a combat flight sim. More "smearing" would indicate that your HMD isn't keeping up with the game as well.

 

On the Quest this could be for a couple of reasons. One is that it has a higher native resolution than the Rift S, so requires a bit more processing power to run. The other is that I've heard it has slightly higher latency due to not being a dedicated PC-connected HMD like the Rift S. If it happens more in MP than SP, then it's probably because your PC is working harder when playing online than offline, leaving less power for processing your HMD.

 

Thanks, Goffik.  I believe you're right about all of that. 

 

Ours was a pretty good gaming computer years ago but now it's barely got what it needs to run the Rift in VR; apparently, the Q2 is a bit more demanding than the Rift, as well.

 

When my wife (best computer person in our family)  and I were getting it set up last night, at first I could adjust the frame rate up or down.  Towards the end of the evening I saw that option disappear and don't know why.  It started about 60 FPS, then I kicked it up to 80 because I think I read the Q2 is capable of about 90 or so.  Changed around from Low to Ultimate settings and such in there and kind of got lost.  Right now the FPS setting is grayed out and it just seems to be doing its own thing and I have no idea what the setting is now.  Somewhere, the option to adjust the Frame Rate disappeared.

 

Last experiment = higher quality settings smear more; lower setting smear a bit less.  Still working on it.

 

But all things considered over morning coffee, I'm beginning to  think I need a new gaming computer if I want the Q2 to work right; and beyond that I'll be looking for the best VR headset in 2021 - 2022.

 

Thanks for the assistance.  Happy landings!     

6 hours ago, 5BMR_nikit said:

Thanks for commenting, I have been trying to find opinions on the net and most of the old users of the Rift S say that there is some improvement but perhaps not so much to compensate for the expense in a Quest 2, as you say, the change would be noticed with some another solution other than Oculus or wait for a generation change of VR glasses.

 

You're welcome.  Keep in mind, this is my first time experimenting with anything other than the Rift and the performance capabilities of my computer are not robust by modern standards; barely adequate, in fact.  Maybe somebody with a better computer will get more out of the Q2 than I presently am; hope so, anyway.

 

Prosit! 

  

[Highwayman]

I'd like to throw something into the mix here.

A lot of people are asking for comparisons for Rift to Quest 2, and I myself have used a LOT of headsets, and the Quest 2 is currently my go to favorite out of the bunch. I've owned and made extensive use of: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Pimax 5K XR, Pimax Vision 8K Plus and I've used for extended tests the Valve Index and Pimax 5K Plus.

 

Of all of those headsets, the Valve Index is my favorite all around headset, but the price of obtaining one in Australia is just too much to justify, and then of course there are the concerns over what happens if something goes wrong, and I've had an incredibly troubled history with Pimax on headsets failing that have made me cautious of buying anything without a rock solid warranty behind it.

 

Anyway, back to the Quest 2...

Things to consider before you jump.

 

1. Performance.

The resolution of the Quest 2 is much higher than the Rift, so you will in turn need a much better computer to run it at a similar frame rate. Believe it or not, I've seen a lot of people complaining that their 2nd gen VR headsets perform much worse than their 1st gen headsets did and don't understand why...

 

I run an i9-9900kf @5.2 GHz and 32GB of DDR4 with a 2080Ti and even then I have to compromise in IL-2 and other flight sims more so to get a good and stable frame rate.

 

Simple comparison you can do at home.

IL-2 Quick start free flight mission with a Fw-190A8 over the Bodenplatte map near Antwerp. At 4K with 2x MSAA on my monitor it held an approximate 290fps

Same mission in VR on my Quest 2 held an approximate 94fps (with ASW forced off in the Debug tool so as to not cap the frame rate)

 

Remember that that is a simple mission in straight and level flight with only clouds in the sky to keep me company. VR is expensive!

 

2. Focal point.

The IPD adjustment is not as fine, nor as wide as the Rift. This causes issues with some people trying to get the 'sweet spot' in their Quest 2's as the 3 fixed positions may simply not work for you.

 

3. Link

The Quest 2 needs a GOOD quality link cable to even stand a chance in the first place. 2 of my friends with Quest 2's bought cheap cables from eBay or Amazon and suffered issues with drop outs, charging problems and blurry textures because of this. You don't have to buy the ridiculously expensive official link cable, but don't cut corners as this will be one of the biggest factors in how well your PC VR experience works.

 

4. It's Wireless!

Sure, the Quest 2 can do wireless streaming, but not many people have sufficient bandwidth on their home networks to support a stable Wireless stream via AirLink or Virtual Desktop, and even if they can, you then have to consider that the compression of textures is still most likely going to be a lot higher than with a Link cable, and also you only have a couple of hours battery before you have to stop flying, whereas with a good quality Link cable, you'll get 10-12 hours continuous use without worry.

 

5. It's scared of the dark.

Like any inside out tracking headset, the Quest 2 relies on being able to 'see' where it is in the real world to track your movement and translate that into games. For years I've gamed in the dark as it were, but you need the lights on for the Quest 2 to track properly, and surprisingly that bothers quite a lot of people.

 

6. The factory shipped head strap is rubbish.

Buy the Elite strap. There were initially manufacturing issues with those, but Oculus have fixed them, and replaced any that broke, no questions asked. This is much more important than it may initially seem as the bundled strap simply doesn't hold the headset in place well enough to give you that 'sweet spot' for extended periods, and before I bought mine, I found that I was constantly adjusting the headset on my face to get it clear.

 

7. You need a FaceBook account.

Wah, wah, wah, everybody is posting on the internet about this that and the other anyway, and ironically, most of the people I've seen complaining about this fact are doing so on Flight Sim Facebook pages, go figure!

 

8. Ads in my game!

Fake news... Yes Facebook looked into the option of allowing game developers to place ads in their games for the Quest 2. This does not translate to everything that it does.

 

So what is the upside you ask?

 

1. Clarity.

Once you get the 'sweet spot' dialed in, it has one for the best sweet spots I've ever experienced. I swear that 80% of the entire field of view is in focus for me, and this is much better than any other headset I've used with the exception of the Index that was about the same for me. However, note point 2 above, everybody's face is different. I may just be lucky and fit right into the fixed center IPD setting on the Quest.

 

There is no discernable screen door effect, unless you REALLY, REALLY look for it on a solid colored background. you may notice a slight effect on the horizon on a foggy flight for example, but you can't actually 'see' it. The Quest 2 is easily equal to both the Pimax Vision 8K Plus and I'd actually say better than the Valve Index for this.

 

2. Price.

At US$300, it's ridiculously cheap for what you're getting, and this is one of the reasons why I never bought (imported at the time) a Valve Index. for that price you get the full VR experience, with hand controllers and no additional tracking components required. Sure, the Index has better controllers and sound built in, but the quest has a simple 3.5mm audio jack for you to put your own headphones in, and who needs hand controllers in IL-2? It simply wasn't worth the difference in what for me in Australia was a total of US$370 for the Quest, Elite Strap and Link cable vs the $US1,700 after shipping and import taxes for a Valve Index.

 

3. Flexibility.

When VR 3.0 comes along in a couple of years, the Quest 2 doesn't need to get relegated to a cupboard or drawer because your new shiny toy is connected to your flight rig. The Quest 2 is a great stand alone wireless headset, and there are a surprising number of good games for it, especially in the work out category, which I now use it for quite a lot.

 

Here is a photo, shot from my phone through the lens of my Quest 2. things to bear in mind are that;

 

a. It's from a phone, held at a stupid angle to even attempt to get it in focus.

b. Because of point a, the distortion on the edges is incredibly magnified, you simply don't see that with your eyes.

c. The 'focal point' of this picture was supposed to be my wingman's Me262, anything further away from that gets blurred more and more due to the camera lens not being able to account for the change in focal length cause by the VR lenses.

 

Without proper gear, it's near impossible to do justice on a flat screen to what an image in VR looks like to the human eye, but this gives you some idea of the screen door (or lack of it) and resolution of the image in the Quest 2.

 

 

 

Edited July 27, 2021 by Highwayman

[E69_nikit]

Thank you very much Highwayman for the detailed and complete explanation, although before I was clear that it was better to stay with the Rift S and wait maybe for a Quest 3 or something similar, after reading you I am tempted to buy a used Quest 2 if I get it right price and try it. Thank you very much for commenting.

[E69_chopo]

just add that it looks much better than the photo that you have put and that coming from an oculus rift the difference is very big

[E69_nikit]

I imagine that the difference in terms of sharpness with respect to the Rift CV1 will be a lot, but the doubt is with respect to the "Rift S".

[354thFG_Drewm3i-VR]

Why not a reverb g2? You can get one for $400.

[E69_nikit]

The truth is that I tried a Reverb G1 that I bought used and I did not like the experience, it is true that the sharpness was much greater, but the sweet spot did not convince me and above all I felt very uncomfortable, perhaps it is because I like the headband system that uses the "Rift S" and I could not feel comfortable with the Reverb G1, the truth is that I sold it again.

[Highwayman]

I have a friend here that loves his G2 after he sorted all of his WMR hurdles out, and sold his Pimax 8K X after getting the G2 because of the better sweet spot, clarity and most importantly for him, weight.

 

US$400 is a bargain if you can get it at that price, unfortunately for us in Australia, they're ~US$670 otherwise I would have added one to my stable of headsets too 

Edited July 28, 2021 by Highwayman

[E69_nikit]

It may be a good option, but if the clamping system is the same as the G1, I think I will have the same comfort problem. Or wait as things are beginning to be known about the Quest 3 and its new features.

[Todt_Von_Oben]

After flying the Quest 2 for a couple days, I went back to my Rift CV1.  Keeping in mind that the limitations I'm seeing might be due to the fact that my computer is adequate but not strong for VR, I'll report that (1) the Q2's improvement in sharpness and clarity is only very slight; and (2) the CV1 looks almost as good and certainly good enough to fly by and it doesn't smear nearly as bad (almost at all) in low settings at Flugpark.

 

Bottom line: until we get a better computer, I'll be happy flying the CV1.   YMMV.

 

Prosit!   

Edited July 29, 2021 by Todt_Von_Oben