Pimax Crystal Light

[dgiatr]

2 hours ago, firdimigdi said:

 

If I'm not mistaken the overly enthusiastic British youtuber with the silly preview thumbnail expressions uses that combination.

Thank you Firdimigdi nice to hear from you !

[keithbriscoe99]

Just got my email to complete transaction. Got local dimming, no controllers, and added dmas. 

Did the trial payment thing, since it's there.

Cautiously optimistic for the pimax. I'm new to VR and the used G2 v2 has been serving me well.

 

Edited May 24, 2024 by keithbriscoe99

[Varibraun]

7 hours ago, dgiatr said:

Does anybody know if pimax crystal is compatible with Srs (sim racing studio) plus motion compensation software to use them in dof reality motion platforms ?

 

Yes, that is what I am using and it works well.  My only caveat is that the Crystal is sensitive to vibration that can give you some shaking in the headset.  This is really more of an issue with the Buttkicker and Jetseat settings than it is with the DoF motion, and it can also be mitigated somewhat with OpenXR toolkit.  I think @Charlo-VR has commented on this too regarding the Crystal.

[c19580]

Just completed pre-order for the crystal light with local dimming. Can’t wait!

 

any recommendation on best comfort accessories and dp cable?

[TCW_Brzi_Joe]

41 minutes ago, c19580 said:

any recommendation on best comfort accessories and dp cable?

Top middle strap is elastic strip - that is bad. I use instead some medium soft plastic strip, but I will probably figure something better. Apparently there is additional "comfort" part (not cheap), but it is constantly sold out.

 

I havePimax DAS audio headphones - they are excellent, even for my case (I play while family whatches movies in same room).

 

DP cable? Original cable works good, if you ask for that.

[Charlo-VR]

1 hour ago, Varibraun said:

 

Yes, that is what I am using and it works well.  My only caveat is that the Crystal is sensitive to vibration that can give you some shaking in the headset.  This is really more of an issue with the Buttkicker and Jetseat settings than it is with the DoF motion, and it can also be mitigated somewhat with OpenXR toolkit.  I think @Charlo-VR has commented on this too regarding the Crystal.

 

I think over time I got used to it, or perhaps Pimax fixed it somehow, but I can't recall the last time I noticed excess vibration in the headset causing me to struggle with spotting when zoomed in.  It's good I forgot about that issue, though last year someone who worked for Pimax did acknowledge the issue existed for a few of us, which is why perhaps they fixed it. Or like I said, I just got used to it when using my Next Level Racing HF8 haptic seat pad and a Buttkicker.

 

I also have no motion compensation problems with my Next Level Racing v3, but that is, after all, only a "butt mover", so not as much movement as a DOF or a Yaw2/2.5/3.

 

For Pimax Crystal comfort that should also work with the Crystal Light, I highly recommend the Studioform Apache strap and 100 grams of counterweight just above the rear strap adjuster knob. It turns out 10 American nickels weighs 50 grams, so a bit of electrical tape and $1 worth of nickels now helps keep any weight off my nose and cheeks.

 

Last night I finally received that Pimax' Crystal Comfort topstrap option that is nearly always sold out, so sometime soon I should have an idea if I prefer that over the Apache strap.

 

I also recommend removing Pimax' face cover foam and replacing it with a 16mm VR Cover Foam replacement for HTC Vive Pro.

 

Oh - and the other night I decided to order a Crystal Light with local dimming and controllers, using the "Trial Payment, Final Payment" option. I'm curious if I'll find the reduced weight and lack of battery enough of a reason to keep the Crystal Light and sell the original Crystal, which I very much enjoy.

[dgiatr]

5 hours ago, Varibraun said:

 

Yes, that is what I am using and it works well.  My only caveat is that the Crystal is sensitive to vibration that can give you some shaking in the headset.  This is really more of an issue with the Buttkicker and Jetseat settings than it is with the DoF motion, and it can also be mitigated somewhat with OpenXR toolkit.  I think @Charlo-VR has commented on this too regarding the Crystal.

Thank you Varibraun.

Glad to see you finally managed to make your dof to work.

Do you have lighthouse faceplate in you Pimax or only inside out tracking? Do you use witmotion sensor for Srs motion compensation?

 

Stuttering due to hard vibrations from my earthquake bass shaker happens to me also with G2 in my dof 3p motion platform while using witmotion sensor and Srs motion compensation.

I think it somehow relates to motion compensation...

Edited May 19, 2024 by dgiatr

[voodoomom]

Hey,

i am also very interessted to an Pimax Light. at the moment i am run a valve index with upscale. i need it for il2 and other simulators also cars...

My question was does it make sense to use the local dimming version or the non and is it a good upgrade to an index?

I use my  lighthouse tracking again with the faceplate and also the controller from index.

 

Edited May 19, 2024 by voodoomom

[Aapje]

It should be a solid upgrade. The Steam statistics show that Valve Index owners are now abandoning their headsets for the latest generation of headsets en masse, so lots of them think that it is a good upgrade.

 

And the benefits of local dimming seems to depend a lot on the game and situation. In night flying it seems to matter most.

[Varibraun]

17 hours ago, Charlo-VR said:

I think over time I got used to it, or perhaps Pimax fixed it somehow, but I can't recall the last time I noticed excess vibration in the headset causing me to struggle with spotting when zoomed in.  It's good I forgot about that issue, though last year someone who worked for Pimax did acknowledge the issue existed for a few of us, which is why perhaps they fixed it. Or like I said, I just got used to it when using my Next Level Racing HF8 haptic seat pad and a Buttkicker.

 

 

13 hours ago, dgiatr said:

Stuttering due to hard vibrations from my earthquake bass shaker happens to me also with G2 in my dof 3p motion platform while using witmotion sensor and Srs motion compensation.

I think it somehow relates to motion compensation...

 

I did some experimenting today (including updating to the latest Pimax software) by alternately turning on/off: the DoF rig, the motion compensation, the JetPad, and the Buttkickers and came to the following conclusion for my system:

 

-I think @Charlo-VR is correct that the latest Pimax update significantly helped (I still have some of the issue, but almost wouldn't notice it without looking for it).

-DoF Rig and Motion Compensation are not factors for me (i.e. with the Buttkickers and the JetPad off, I don't have any shaking in headset with both the DoF & Wit Motion Compensation Active).

-Buttkicker contributed more to the shaking than the JetPad

 

13 hours ago, dgiatr said:

Thank you Varibraun.

Glad to see you finally managed to make your dof to work.

Do you have lighthouse faceplate in you Pimax or only inside out tracking? Do you use witmotion sensor for Srs motion compensation?

 

Off topic: Unfortunately, I am still working through the jolt/jerking issue with DoF support.  This is more something I will eventually post on over in the motion thread once I have a resolution.  DoF support has been great at communicating and I wanted to work through it with them before attempting potential solutions in discussed in Discord/Facebook since I am under warranty.  Also, the biggest reason this is taking a while has been my desire to be sure the problem wasn't with my SRS tuning incorrectly and lack of free time for me lately (the same reason I hadn't updated the Pimax software since the last update).  I have a session with DoF support tomorrow, they are thinking right now if may be a calibration issue (my frame is not centered - I personally am now wondering if maybe it was bent in shipping).  The short of it is that I really want to get it working correctly, because I love it otherwise.  Based on your posts today, it looks like you have created an AWESOME rig, and I hope I am getting closer.

 

To answer your questions - I am only using inside out tracking, and I am using the Witmotion with SRS (which is working well).  

[TCW_Brzi_Joe]

7 hours ago, voodoomom said:

My question was does it make sense to use the local dimming version or the non and is it a good upgrade to an index?

I use my  lighthouse tracking again with the faceplate and also the controller from index.

I tried Crystal, with their controllers, and emediately sold my pimax 8kx, index controllers and base stations at low price. No regrets.

 

Local dimming is nice, but I care more for chrisp picture then for colors. And you do not even see local dimming except in dark rooms/night (at least I do not see it in bright maps/rooms).

[dgiatr]

11 hours ago, Varibraun said:

Based on your posts today, it looks like you have created an AWESOME rig, and I hope I am getting closer.

 

To answer your questions - I am only using inside out tracking, and I am using the Witmotion with SRS (which is working well).  

Thank you for your kind words.

 

So I think that Crystal light without lighthouse faceplate won't have any issues with dof 3p, Srs and motion compensation all together 👍

[dgiatr]

On 5/17/2024 at 10:45 AM, Aapje said:

 

No, that's not exactly how it works. First of all, VAT differs per EU country. The average is around 20-21%.

 

Secondly, a fraction goes to the EU agency, certainly not all or most of it.

 

And it is possible for non-EU companies to directly ship to EU customers without them having to pay import fees, by prepaying the VAT with the One Stop Shop (OSS). However, it is typically only larger companies that do this, like AliExpress.

So if i get it right...the total cost for Europe customers will be : cost of the headset (subtotal) + shipping + estimated taxes (about 20-21%)+import fees...is that right?

Thank you.

[Aapje]

34 minutes ago, dgiatr said:

So if i get it right...the total cost for Europe customers will be : cost of the headset (subtotal) + shipping + estimated taxes (about 20-21%)+import fees...is that right?

Thank you.

 

Pimax seems to ship from local warehouses, so it would then ship within the EU. In that case, the pricing in the EU is typically close to the official US price converted to euros and then with the local VAT percentage added, plus any shipping.

 

When you get shipped stuff from outside the EU to within the EU, the seller can use the EU-wide OSS software (integration) to prepay the required fees, like AliExpress does. In that case, the foreign seller will have to add the VAT to the price you pay as a customer, and they will have to pay the VAT money (in bulk) to the EU, which then passes most of it onto the country government. This is similar to what happens when you buy a product in a local store (they also add VAT to their price and pay that VAT in bulk to the government).

 

If the seller doesn't do this, it becomes your problem as a customer, because you may have to pay before they will let you have the stuff (for some reason this sometimes doesn't happen and you get it for free, even though you should pay according to the rules). When they do demand payment, you pay the local VAT and if the value is over 150 euros, also importation fees. This depends on the type of product and is between 0 and 17%. For electronics, it is 0%, so this won't be an issue for something like a headset.

 

There is an exception where gifts that cost at most 45 euros are exempt from any import fees and VAT, which is why AliExpress often used to put 'Gift' on the box (even for products much more expensive than the threshold) before they adopted the OSS. They were really too big to get away with this, but if you get something from a smaller company or a friend, this can work.

 

Finally, if you bring stuff into the EU in your luggage, you can take 430 euros worth of stuff on the plane and 300 euros by car, without having to pay taxes over it. Although you can of course also pretend that the stuff isn't new and you took it out of the country earlier, or you will just take it out later when you leave again, by ditching the box and such.

[c19580]

Anyone get theirs yet?

[chiliwili69]

9 hours ago, c19580 said:

Anyone get theirs yet?

Last Friday I recieved this mail:

 

Dear Valued Customer,

 

We're thrilled to let you know that your Crystal Light order will be ready to be shipped ! Before we send it out, we just wanted to touch base with you about a couple of important details.

 

Firstly, if you've had a change of address recently, please take a moment to update us with the new details using the format provided below. We kindly ask that you do so within 3 working days of receiving this email. This will help ensure that your package reaches you without any hiccups.

 

Name:Address:District:City:Province:Country:Zipcode:Phone:

 

Secondly, please bear in mind that your parcel is of high value. In the off chance that it gets flagged by customs, we kindly ask for your cooperation with the customs clearance process.

 

We really appreciate your understanding and support in this matter. Your satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us, and we're committed to making sure your order arrives in perfect condition.We invite you to join our dedicated discord server where we will offer you online support on your order status, aftersale service, any tech issues, and so on.

Please use the following link to join: https://discord.gg/zP7fttc8rJ

 

Thank you once again for choosing us. We sincerely hope that your days are filled with joy and happiness.

 

Warm regards,

The Pimax Logistics Team

 

But as today it has not been shipped yet.

[dgiatr]

58 minutes ago, chiliwili69 said:

Last Friday I recieved this mail:

 

Dear Valued Customer,

 

............................................

 

 

Secondly, please bear in mind that your parcel is of high value. In the off chance that it gets flagged by customs, we kindly ask for your cooperation with the customs clearance process.

 

........................................................

 

 

Warm regards,

The Pimax Logistics Team

 

But as today it has not been shipped yet.

What does they mean by saying "that it gets flagged by customs" , wont they ship it from a European local warehouse?  will it come to you from outside Europe?

[Aapje]

I think that the very first units get shipped directly from the manufacturer.

[dgiatr]

25 minutes ago, Aapje said:

I think that the very first units get shipped directly from the manufacturer.

That's what i suspected , i emailed them about shipping to Europe few days ago and they didn't replied yet..to be honest

[c19580]

6 hours ago, chiliwili69 said:

Last Friday I recieved this mail:

 

Dear Valued Customer,

 

We're thrilled to let you know that your Crystal Light order will be ready to be shipped ! Before we send it out, we just wanted to touch base with you about a couple of important details.

 

Firstly, if you've had a change of address recently, please take a moment to update us with the new details using the format provided below. We kindly ask that you do so within 3 working days of receiving this email. This will help ensure that your package reaches you without any hiccups.

 

Name:Address:District:City:Province:Country:Zipcode:Phone:

 

Secondly, please bear in mind that your parcel is of high value. In the off chance that it gets flagged by customs, we kindly ask for your cooperation with the customs clearance process.

 

We really appreciate your understanding and support in this matter. Your satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us, and we're committed to making sure your order arrives in perfect condition.We invite you to join our dedicated discord server where we will offer you online support on your order status, aftersale service, any tech issues, and so on.

Please use the following link to join: https://discord.gg/zP7fttc8rJ

 

Thank you once again for choosing us. We sincerely hope that your days are filled with joy and happiness.

 

Warm regards,

The Pimax Logistics Team

 

But as today it has not been shipped yet.

when did you place your order?

 

I placed mine on May 18 and haven’t received that email.

[chiliwili69]

22 hours ago, dgiatr said:

wont they ship it from a European local warehouse?  will it come to you from outside Europe?

I have no idea about that.

[chiliwili69]

17 hours ago, c19580 said:

when did you place your order?

 

I did the pre-order on 19th-April, and then the order on 15th-May.

Today I have recieved another email:

 

Dear Pimax customers,

We hope this message finds you well.

Since your Crystal Lights have already been sent to you, we expect them to arrive soon. In the meantime, we invite you to join our dedicated Crystal Light Discord server.

On this server we offer you online support for your orders as well as technical support for your Crystal Lights when needed.

📦 If you need support with your order update, please pm to Emily@Pimax

🛠 If you need tech support for your newly arrived Crystal Light, please pm to Max.Semak@Pimax

 

I am not in Discord. I hate to create new accounts.

[chiliwili69]

https://pimax.com/pages/crystal-light-estimated-shipping-time/

I am in second row, it should arrive Mid-June

Edited May 31, 2024 by chiliwili69

[c19580]

6 hours ago, chiliwili69 said:

https://pimax.com/pages/crystal-light-estimated-shipping-time/

I am in second row, it should arrive Mid-June

thanks for this!

 

although that is the most confusing table I’ve ever seen

[firdimigdi]

https://imgur.com/a/Kh63csB

 

The bulk of that headset...

 

source:

 

[DBCOOPER011]

19 hours ago, firdimigdi said:

https://imgur.com/a/Kh63csB

 

The bulk of that headset...

 

source:

 

 

Yes the HMD is rather bulky but apparently comfortable and much lighter according to VR Flight Sim guy. My OG crystal is very comfortable using the studioform apachestrap/spacer mods. Once this thing is dialed in its pretty sweet.

 

With a 4090, you can pretty much max every setting out in IL2 at 72Mhz w/o FFR at panel resolution (4312/5102) using FXAA X4 and w/o screen space ambient occlusion. DFR/FFR in IL2 will crash sporadically without some sort of pimax play or game update addressing this. The light should be a win for pimax as long as they dont screw it up with poor customer service..

 

 

 

 

Edited June 2, 2024 by DBCOOPER011

[spreckair]

I noticed on the Pimax website that the Crystal Light can use either QLED or MiniLED displays.  I wonder what the difference will be.  Will the MiniLED displays allow for better identification of aircraft at longer distances?  This is my VR holy grail issue, and I am sure for others too.

[[CPT]Crunch]

It's not both, you can choose the version with local dimming for an extra $100 or not.  That's the difference in screen types.

[Aapje]

@spreckair

 

It's the upcoming/future Crystal Super that will offer an interchangeable optic stack, which allows a choice for either QLED or Mini-OLED, both having their advantages/disadvantages. The Light has only QLED, with optionally the local dimming feature.

 

@[CPT]Crunch

 

It's a $200 difference, although there is a local dimming version without controllers, for $100 more, but then you do lose the controllers.

[Chilli_40]

On 5/31/2024 at 5:11 PM, c19580 said:

thanks for this!

 

although that is the most confusing table I’ve ever seen

That list is BS, I pre-ordered on 05/15 and it still hasn't even reached the "Order ready status" never mind the shipped status. It's the local dimming version that was supposed to ship out first.

[dgiatr]

I got a Pimax notification that shipping from local warehouses is available from now on, so for us in Europe it's clear that we will not pay extra custom fees-taxes.

So I am currently searching the whole house to find my "gun" to "pull the trigger", just hoping not to kill myself 💥

[spreckair]

5 hours ago, Aapje said:

It's the upcoming/future Crystal Super that will offer an interchangeable optic stack, which allows a choice for either QLED or Mini-OLED, both having their advantages/disadvantages. The Light has only QLED, with optionally the local dimming feature.

@Aapje I am not so sure about that.  According to their website:

 

At least three of the Crystal Light options have QLED + Mini-LED listed above.

[Aapje]

Oh right. Yeah, the mini-LEDs are the backlight that allow for local dimming.

[DBCOOPER011]

Was just reading a reddit post about foveated rendering and was wondering if IL2 is going to implement any of this. Anyone have any idea?

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/comments/1d7iv59/quad_views_for_crystal_light/

 

[Aapje]

There's a chance that they'll switch to OpenXR for the new engine and then it seems relatively easy to add foveated rendering. But we'll have to wait for the announcement of what the new engine will bring.

[chiliwili69]

On 6/3/2024 at 7:06 PM, dgiatr said:

so for us in Europe it's clear that we will not pay extra custom fees-taxes

 

I was also a bit worried if I have to pay extra fees, but today Pimax sent me a notification of the Fedex tracking number and when I entered in the Fedex page I saw that the origin of the shipment is Gronsveld, on the very south of Netherlands:

 

 

No shipment yet, only Label created.

[Aapje]

There is a distribution center over there. So it's not a Pimax office, but a logistics center.

[dgiatr]

On 6/5/2024 at 9:59 AM, chiliwili69 said:

 

I was also a bit worried if I have to pay extra fees, but today Pimax sent me a notification of the Fedex tracking number and when I entered in the Fedex page I saw that the origin of the shipment is Gronsveld, on the very south of Netherlands:

 

 

No shipment yet, only Label created.

Yep, today they finally replied to me, verifying that for Europe customers shipment will take place from a local European warehouse so no extra custom fees-taxes only vat.

👍   

[DBCOOPER011]

Anybody using this upscaler on the link below? Have it set to upscale from 66% with cas and the results look really good. Tried it out on a couple of unpopular servers as well. dropped 4+ms with these settings.

 

 

[Dagwoodyt]

Any excuse to pump the Crystal Light will do😁