Concerned about HP Reverb Quality Control

[SAG]

I'm thinking of upgrading my VR headset from a Rift S to a Reverb or a Quest 2. I really want to go for the Reverb for obvious reasons but I'm really concerned about the quality of this option. To give some frame of reference, the G2 is equivalent to approximately 3 months of a minimum wage where I live and getting a broken product would be a really hard hit to the wallet.

Does the new Reverb G2 refresh have good quality control? Is it likely getting a broken product on my first try? What do you guys know from experience? All help is welcome

[ACG_Macro]

no guarantee on any electrical item working 100% so buy from reputable outlet that has a guarantee/swap/refund on purchase if you want/need to.

[SAG]

Just now, 71st_AH_Macro said:

no guarantee on any electrical item working 100% so buy from reputable outlet that has a guarantee/swap/refund on purchase if you want/need to.

Thank you for your input.

I understand what you are saying but, returning the item internationally would also cost some money I'd rather not spend. That's why I ask about the likelihood of getting a defective device on my first try, considering this particular Item's history of shipping defective units (at least prior to the refresh).

 

[40plus]

What is the source of your concern? Have you read anything specifically bad about the Reverb G2 vs electronics in general?

 

I have G2 and have had no quality issues. That said, I'm not impressed with WMR from a SW point of view and I'm not impressed with the Reverb's integrated headphones. Otherwise it's great.

[Charlo-VR]

Only problems I had with Reverb G2 was with the original cable, which they are no longer sending (and if you buy used, you can request a free upgraded cable from HP).

 

In fact, I suspect with the Varjo Aero shipping now there are used G2s becoming available near you

[Drum]

I had to send my first one back, due to excess heat buildup.   But they replaced it with new one and payed for the shipping fully by dropping off a return box with return label, all free.

[unlikely_spider]

I've had a bunch of issues with various items, though I likely have a very early production model. Not sure if the components have improved.

Edited January 17, 2022 by unlikely_spider

[ITAF_Airone1989]

I had to return my G1 after 4 months cause it wasn't working anymore.

The (Italian) costumer service was terrible, I had to wait more than 2 months. Don't know if was a coincidence, but a couple of days after I wrote to the international Facebook page I received a new headset (without have to send them back the broken one)

[Ribbon]

I had problem with cable after few months, as many others also did... but HP sent me a new cable version and now it's working fine.

Now as i'm aware all G2's are sold and sent with new cable version so that shouldn't be a problem for you.

I7, rtx3080

 

[PatrickAWlson]

My only complaint is the cheap plastic cable clip.  It's useless.  I haven't gotten around to it yet but that can be resolved with a bit of tape.  Beyond that it works well.  

 

I like HP headsets for their resolution.  For me they are the best value for the price.

[Charlo-VR]

11 minutes ago, PatrickAWlson said:

My only complaint is the cheap plastic cable clip.  It's useless.  I haven't gotten around to it yet but that can be resolved with a bit of tape.  Beyond that it works well.  

 

I like HP headsets for their resolution.  For me they are the best value for the price.

+1 and I forgot about the cheap plastic clip since it barely lasted a day. I forgot that my black Velcro strip I use to hold the cable to the back of my headset was a DIY solution ?

[PatrickAWlson]

5 minutes ago, Charlo-VR said:

+1 and I forgot about the cheap plastic clip since it barely lasted a day. I forgot that my black Velcro strip I use to hold the cable to the back of my headset was a DIY solution ?

 

And +1 to using Velcro instead of electric tape.  

[SAG]

1 hour ago, 40plus said:

What is the source of your concern? Have you read anything specifically bad about the Reverb G2 vs electronics in general?

 

I have G2 and have had no quality issues. That said, I'm not impressed with WMR from a SW point of view and I'm not impressed with the Reverb's integrated headphones. Otherwise it's great.

 

Sadly yes, other than the very common cable issue, I've heard of one "eye" refusing to work after a while, getting no image but the audio still working, tracking going crazy often and sending you flying all over the place, the overheating someone else mentioned below, and other issues I can't remember right now. 

I'm most concerned of the headset breaking 2-3 months after getting it. As much as I hate the Rift S, it is a quality product for the most part.

How long have people had their G2 for?

[40plus]

I've had mine since last summer so ~6mo. I upgraded from a Vive which I bought at launch.

I've had a handful of random errors where one eye doesn't render properly, resolved via reboot. It runs warm but I wouldn't say it's hot.

 

If I could go back, I'd get the Valve index instead. Mainly because of my frustration with Windows Mixed Reality software, not the G2 itself.

Any Facebook product is simply unacceptable to me.

[PatrickAWlson]

Also about 6 months.  I had a G1 for about a year before moving to the G2.  No problems at all with the unit.

[Charlo-VR]

I’ve put in 100’s of hours (I admit somewhat sheepishly), sometimes 3 or 4 hours at a time, in my G2, mainly flying the Finnish MP server over the past 14 or so months (I pre-ordered my G2). The sound in the off-ears speakers can stutter but a simple slight adjusting the speaker fixes that - the issue is apparently poor contacts. I am annoyed with that since the headset cost something like $600 US at the time, more than my Quest 1 had cost - but now that I see what the Varjo Aero costs, my G2 feels more like a bargain. 

[kissTheSky]

9 minutes ago, Charlo-VR said:

I’ve put in 100’s of hours (I admit somewhat sheepishly), sometimes 3 or 4 hours at a time, in my G2, mainly flying the Finnish MP server over the past 14 or so months (I pre-ordered my G2). The sound in the off-ears speakers can stutter but a simple slight adjusting the speaker fixes that - the issue is apparently poor contacts. I am annoyed with that since the headset cost something like $600 US at the time, more than my Quest 1 had cost - but now that I see what the Varjo Aero costs, my G2 feels more like a bargain. 

I’m having the same issue. Have you contacted support about that? Is there a solution for it, or do we just live with it?

[Charlo-VR]

48 minutes ago, kissTheSky said:

I’m having the same issue. Have you contacted support about that? Is there a solution for it, or do we just live with it?

I’ve followed directions I found online shortly after the headset was released about cleaning and reseating the speaker contacts, but I never raised the issue with HP.  It’s now just a minor annoyance to something that has otherwise made the pandemic an opportunity to enjoy many hours of immersive digital flying.

 

Had to get HP to replace the cable twice (the third cable is the rev. 2 one that is more robust and seems to be fine, should be my last one). In both cases I bought a used G2 just to use the cable until my replacement cable arrived, then resold the used ones again for the same I had paid for each.

[Ribbon]

3 hours ago, Charlo-VR said:

+1 and I forgot about the cheap plastic clip since it barely lasted a day. I forgot that my black Velcro strip I use to hold the cable to the back of my headset was a DIY solution ?

My clip still works, after a year of usage!

But cable issue was due to clip, i found that cable was loosing contact when moved or touched in clip area....and i only used headset in seated position in flight sims.

First version of cable was soo fragile that even slight bending (on smaller area) causes cable to wear of from inside....as it was in my case, clip bending cable caused snapped wires inside.

[kissTheSky]

Agreed @Charlo-VR, a minor annoyance. I keep wanting to call them, but keep forgetting it till the next time I sit down and put the headset on.

 

Also, my plastic clip is still intact after almost a year’s worth of using. Of course now that I said it, I surely have jinxed myself. 

[dburne]

Have had my G2 since they were released, has been great for me.

I did upgrade to the new version of the cable, but I was not having any issues so just purchased it.

[RAAF492SQNOz_Steve]

8 hours ago, SAG said:

I'm thinking of upgrading my VR headset from a Rift S to a Reverb or a Quest 2. I really want to go for the Reverb for obvious reasons but I'm really concerned about the quality of this option. To give some frame of reference, the G2 is equivalent to approximately 3 months of a minimum wage where I live and getting a broken product would be a really hard hit to the wallet.

Does the new Reverb G2 refresh have good quality control? Is it likely getting a broken product on my first try? What do you guys know from experience? All help is welcome

Have had a G2 for about 13 months now. Once HP replaced the original cable (with one that had on-off switch) I was very happy with it. Did have some intermittent audio issues after I accidently dropped the headset but taking off the problematic earpiece and re-aligning the contacts fixed it

 

I note that you have a 2070 Super GPU and a Reverb G2 is going to really work it hard. I would suggest seeking some advice from IL2 users who have a similar specification GPU to see what their experience has been. As you say it is a big financial commitment, in your country, so worth asking lots of questions first. 

Edited January 18, 2022 by RAAF492SQNOz_Steve
added more detail

[Drum]

I still have the original cable from last January.  I will add that the latest Nvidia drivers and IL-2's latest VR patch has really made the G2 an excellent HMD now, it's worth the price and risk to get IMHO, SAG.  

[SAG]

2 hours ago, RAAF492SQNOz_Steve said:

Have had a G2 for about 13 months now. Once HP replaced the original cable (with one that had on-off switch) I was very happy with it. Did have some intermittent audio issues after I accidently dropped the headset but taking off the problematic earpiece and re-aligning the contacts fixed it

 

I note that you have a 2070 Super GPU and a Reverb G

1 hour ago, Drum said:

I still have the original cable from last January.  I will add that the latest Nvidia drivers and IL-2's latest VR patch has really made the G2 an excellent HMD now, it's worth the price and risk to get IMHO, SAG.  

2 is going to really work it hard. I would suggest seeking some advice from IL2 users who have a similar specification GPU to see what their experience has been. As you say it is a big financial commitment, in your country, so worth asking lots of questions first. 

 

I've been asking so many questions, you wouldn't believe it hahaha
Thanks for the input, I've read that since you don't have to use supersampling on the G2 unlike with the Rift S to get a clear image, that the G2 is remarkably well performing in comparison. Of course I'm not expecting better performance but judging by that and other comments from people with my setup, setting the SS below 100% should still be a significant improvement over the RiftS while still maintaining great performance.

 

I'm also waiting for Ethereum to go Proof Of Stake (So they can't use GPUs to mine anymore) so the market gets saturated with second hand Gfx cards for very cheap. People think that GPU's used for mining are not good, but that is not the case. Just make sure you don't get one with faulty cooling.

[354thFG_Drewm3i-VR]

On 1/17/2022 at 1:15 PM, unlikely_spider said:

I've had a bunch of issues with various items, though I likely have a very early production model. Not sure if the components have improved.

The production quality and cable is much improved.

[SAG]

On 1/23/2022 at 5:24 PM, -332FG-drewm3i-VR said:

The production quality and cable is much improved.

 

I went for it and I'm nervous. It's taking forever to ship though

 

[TheSNAFU]

I’ve had mine about a month now and have had no quality issues at all. It seems at least as well built as

my Quest 2.  It was also a breeze to set up. Now getting IL2 to look and run the way I wanted was another story but that is true of most all headsets. I’m quite happy with my G2. 

[SAG]

1 hour ago, TheSNAFU said:

I’ve had mine about a month now and have had no quality issues at all. It seems at least as well built as

my Quest 2.  It was also a breeze to set up. Now getting IL2 to look and run the way I wanted was another story but that is true of most all headsets. I’m quite happy with my G2. 

 

I'm glad yo hear that. I actually went through your thread to help alleviate my anxiety haha 

Hopefully I'll get decent results with my setup. heard surprising results in comparison to the RiftS that I currently own

 

[TheSNAFU]

Look forward to hearing how it goes! 

[dburne]

2 hours ago, SAG said:

 

I'm glad yo hear that. I actually went through your thread to help alleviate my anxiety haha 

Hopefully I'll get decent results with my setup. heard surprising results in comparison to the RiftS that I currently own

 

 

Rift S to Reverb G2 = a very nice upgrade.

[SAG]

9 minutes ago, dburne said:

 

Rift S to Reverb G2 = a very nice upgrade.

 

 

Ohh yes. the headset itself is, without a doubt, a big upgrade. But I wonder if my system will be able to hold a decent framerate at a reasonable eye candy level.

[dburne]

11 minutes ago, SAG said:

 

 

Ohh yes. the headset itself is, without a doubt, a big upgrade. But I wonder if my system will be able to hold a decent framerate at a reasonable eye candy level.

 

Should be fine. Remember you do not have to run at  full resolution , and it will still look nice.

[TheSNAFU]

31 minutes ago, dburne said:

 

Should be fine. Remember you do not have to run at  full resolution , and it will still look nice.

Yep I’m running my g2 at 78% resolution in steamvr and get pretty much constant 90 fps. Most graphic settings in the game are at high. 

[BigC208]

On 1/25/2022 at 7:35 PM, SAG said:

 

 

Ohh yes. the headset itself is, without a doubt, a big upgrade. But I wonder if my system will be able to hold a decent framerate at a reasonable eye candy level.

I’m running a 5820k stock with 32gb ram and 1080ti. No problems running with highest settings. 

[TheDome]

I made this upgrade early last year and I've had no issues with the headset at all and am still on the original cable (although I'm very careful with it). Headset has at least 1000 hours on it. Visually it was a decent upgrade. The one thing I like less than the rift s is the sweet spot certainly feels smaller to me. I don't use it for anything but sims if I do any other types of vr I'm still using my rift s

 

[SAG]

2 hours ago, BigC208 said:

I’m running a 5820k stock with 32gb ram and 1080ti. No problems running with highest settings. 

 

That sounds very promising! what kind of frames are we talking about here?