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Review: Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide
In 2020, I had my first experience with Pimax when I purchased the 5KXR, motivated by my desire for OLED displays and a wide field of view (FOV). This initial experience raised some questions about the brand for me, but over the years, they have made significant progress in the aspects where I believed the 5KXR had issues. Now, after trying out the Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide, have they made improvements?
Product Details
Brand: Pimax
Price: US $1,735
* Product Provided For Review *
Use Code TheVRRealm03 for 3% off any Crystal Super
Use Code TheVRRealm08 for 8% off any Crystal Light
What’s In The Box?
Inside the box, you will find the Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide, two Pimax Controllers, a spare facial interface pad, two USB-C cables for charging the controllers, one Power Adapter (complete with universal plug attachments), a Screw Driver along with extra small screws, a Lens Cloth, a Quick Guide, and an After-sales Guide.
Set-Up
Setting up the Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide was quite simple, allowing for a quick transition from unboxing your new headset to diving into your first VR game. This ease is largely thanks to Pimax’s use of inside-out tracking, meaning that unless you choose to use base station support, there’s no need for any base station setup.
To get started, simply install the PimaxPlay software on your PC to ensure it recognises the hardware. After installation, connect the display port and USB to your computer, and plug the power adapter into the small breakout box on the cable. Then, pair the controllers and establish your play space, and you’re all set. Overall, this entire process took me about twenty minutes before I was ready to enjoy my first game with the headset.
Keep in mind: If this is your first VR headset, you will need to install Steam VR through your Steam client, which can be done prior to installing the Pimax software and connecting your headset.
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Head Mounted Display (HMD)
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the headset’s performance and comfort, I immersed myself in a diverse range of games across various genres. I delved into well-known titles like Half-Life Alyx and Beat Saber, newer games such as Reach, Titan Isles, and Wander: The Fragments of Fate, along with my favourite visual novels like Spice & Wolf VR. I also tried out shooters including After The Fall and Onward, classic games like Batman Arkham VR and KIN, unique experiences such as Pools VR and Gloomy Eyes, as well as VR mods like Crysis, Halo Combat Evolved, and Bugsnax. I concluded my testing with some Le Mans Ultimate and Aces of Thunder (preview build).
Quality/Comfort
The build quality was a significant concern for me regarding the Pimax 5KXR. Given the size of the lenses and its overall design, it appeared that the team had chosen a lighter plastic, which ultimately led to it feeling cheap. This raised my worries about the product’s long-term durability, which is unexpected for a headset priced at a premium level. So, has the team made any improvements since then? I’m pleased to report that, in addition to slightly reducing the form factor, the team has clearly prioritised functionality, build quality, and durability over the years. I am genuinely impressed with the build quality and the materials used, resulting in a product that not only looks but also feels premium.
Despite the enhancements in quality, the Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide remains a relatively large and heavy design. However, it is evident that user comfort has been a priority in its design. The smaller form factor has led to better weight distribution, allowing for longer sessions without experiencing eye strain or discomfort from the weight. That said, achieving the ideal comfort level isn’t as simple as just putting on the headset out of the box; you’ll need to invest some time adjusting the straps and headset settings to find your perfect fit. Once you’ve done that, it becomes a matter of simply putting on the headset and being ready to enjoy your experience.
Additionally, if you find that the weight balance isn’t quite right for you and need extra support, you can purchase the Crystal Comfort Topstrap for $19.99 from the Pimax Store – which I unfortunately did not have for this review.
Visuals
The Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide offers breathtaking visuals with a remarkable resolution of 3840×3840 for each eye, paired with 50 pixels per degree – culminating in an astounding total of 29 million pixels. These exceptional specifications deliver an unparalleled level of detail and visual clarity, highlighting incredibly sharp textures and vibrant colours. The QLED mini-LED displays further elevate this experience by reducing shimmering, the screen door effect, and glare, making it an outstanding feature and the finest VR visuals I have ever experienced, providing genuine high-definition immersion for those in pursuit of it.
Opting for QLED has its drawbacks, I chose the Pimax 5KXR for its impressive OLED panels. This decision means that the Crystal Super Ultrawide doesn’t provide the same deep blacks and contrast that OLED is known for. However, the panels used do produce blacks that are nearly comparable to OLED, and I haven’t observed this transition as noticeably as I typically do when switching from OLED to LED displays.
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Enhancing the immersive experience that the displays provide visually, it features an impressive field of view (FOV) of 140 degrees horizontally and 110 degrees vertically, creating a vast and engaging visual landscape. This wider FOV is ideal for gaming, simulators, and various VR experiences. However, there are some downsides due to the lenses used; they can lead to a somewhat mixed experience, with noticeable chromatic fringing and a lack of sharpness in areas outside the centre point. Additionally, the lens positioning required for the wider FOV results in slightly reduced binocular overlap compared to the standard Pimax Crystal. I tend to be quite particular about binocular overlap, but I believe the choice of lenses, combined with the brightness of the displays, compensates for the darker regions typically associated with the images not overlapping.
The Pimax team has incorporated dynamic foveated rendering into their headset, which I believe is going to be essential for all VR headsets moving forward. This feature enhances your PC’s performance by utilising the headset’s eye-tracking to concentrate rendering on the area the user is focusing on, thereby reducing the load on your PC. However, while this is managed through the Pimax software, its effectiveness can vary, sometimes leading to distractions that break the immersion. Nevertheless, the team has already made strides in improving this since its initial release, and I hope they continue to refine it to unlock its full potential.
One aspect I truly appreciate about the Crystal Super is the company’s choice to implement a modular design for the displays. This approach allows for easy interchangeability of the displays, enabling users to upgrade to newer versions as Pimax releases them. Consequently, this will significantly extend the headset’s lifespan and provide a more economical means of embracing emerging technologies as they evolve in the future.
Audio
The audio solution in the base model you purchase comes with integrated spatial audio by default, featured on the adjustable ergonomic backstrap. Throughout my testing for this review, I found that these worked exceptionally well in delivering spatial audio while keeping your ears aware of the surrounding environment. In my opinion, this audio solution rivals the integrated audio of the Meta Quest 3 – which is certainly a positive aspect. However, if you prefer to immerse yourself completely in your VR experience, the team has also included a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing you to connect your headphones without the need to run them from your PC.
While the built-in microphone is not bad, it is somewhat basic and will suffice for typical requirements. However, if you intend to use it for social gaming that depends on continuous voice chat, you may want to explore alternative options such as a ModMic Wireless. Below is an audio sample captured using the built-in microphone.
DMAS Earpones (Optional Add-on)
The integrated spatial audio solution excels at keeping you immersed and serves as a very satisfactory audio option. However, the team also provides a DMAS audio solution available for purchase separately at USD $99.90. I explored these as part of my review (thanks to my podcast co-host Dr. Oculus), and while I was pleased with the integrated spatial audio, the DMAS solution truly enhances the experience. I highly recommend considering these for your headset. This upgrade gives the Pimax audio quality comparable to that of the Valve Index, which has been unparalleled for me until now. That said, I want to emphasise that these are not a necessary addition, as the default audio solution is veryacceptable. But if you’re looking to boost your immersion, these are ideal for that purpose – with the Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide and the DMAS earphones, I felt like I was rediscovering an old game (Batman Arkham VR) for the first time all over again.
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Controllers
The controllers included with the Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide closely resemble the design of the Meta Quest 2 controllers, featuring a larger surface area. This design accommodates not only the standard Steam menu buttons but also a dedicated button on each controller to access the Pimax software. For individuals like myself, who have relatively large hands, this increased surface area significantly enhances comfort during use. However, they remain comfortable for users with average-sized hands, as the spacing between the buttons is not adversely affected.
One concern I still have regarding inside-out tracking is that, despite the advancements we’ve observed in this technology, it can still malfunction. This can be simply influenced by factors such as the room’s lighting. However, I can confidently say that I never experienced a loss of tracking with the Pimax controllers, whether it was during daylight, under artificial lighting, or when switching between the two lighting types.
The build quality of the controllers is impressive; they feel robust and designed to endure impacts, ensuring durability. They are equipped with built-in batteries that charge via USB-C. Throughout my extensive testing over the past week and a half, which included several hours of daily use and some multiplayer gaming with friends, I only needed to recharge them once. This has truly impressed me regarding their battery life. Additionally, I have no issues with the haptics in the controllers; they are very responsive and sufficiently strong to perform their function effectively.
PimaxPlay
When I was using the Pimax 5KXR, it required a software called PiTool, which was somewhat buggy and inconsistent. I was hopeful that these issues had been resolved. I was delighted to see the enhancements made in their software now referred to as PimaxPlay.
This software is not intended to replace Steam VR but rather to operate alongside it. Through this software, you can adjust your device settings, such as modifying the refresh rate, changing the display resolution, adjusting brightness levels, enabling or disabling foveated rendering, and choosing whether to prioritise performance or quality. However, please keep in mind that to utilise these features, you must set Pimax OpenVR as your default Steam VR setting, which can be done through PimaxPlay.
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Additionally, you can launch your Steam games directly from PimaxPlay or even buy games from the Pimax Store (if they are available). All your games will be displayed in the My Assets section. This section will also show any games you own and have installed on the Meta PC app. However, I have not yet succeeded in launching them; while the game starts and reacts to my head movements on the monitor, it does not launch in the headset. I’m uncertain if I’m making an error, but I’m still figuring out how to get them to launch inside the headset (I encounter the same issue when trying through ReVive).
However, I am genuinely impressed by the overall improvements in the software compared to PiTool. Additionally, this software appears to be much more stable now. That said, the performance of a game with Pimax OpenVR can differ, and this is typically resolved by adjusting the settings in PimaxPlay. In most cases, everything works well with your selected settings; I mainly noticed that older games required more tinkering.
Specs Breakdown
The Verdict
I have been thoroughly impressed with the Pimax Crystal Super Ultrawide. Its incredible resolution of 3480 x 3480 per eye, 50 PPD, 29 million pixels QLED panels, and a 140-degree FOV make Virtual Reality look stunning and incredibly immersive. The Crystal Super marks a major leap in VR technology, featuring eye-tracked foveated rendering for PC VR through their PimaxPlay software, ensuring excellent performance even if your PC’s graphics card is somewhat outdated. My primary concern after using the 5KXR in the past was the build quality, but I was delighted to find that the build and material quality has improved significantly since then, truly giving it the feel of a premium product for which you are paying. In addition to foveated rendering, the modular design allows for display swaps as technology progresses, making the Pimax Crystal Super the most future-proof headset on the market. Even with its current technology and high-end specifications, it is already an appealing choice that I can wholeheartedly recommend to any VR enthusiast with the budget to afford it – one thing is for sure, this will now be my daily driver for PCVR.
Copyright / The VR Realm / 2016 -
