Another member in the “Best VR Headsets” discussion thread asked if I would write a few words about my experiences with the Varjo Aero VR headset that I got it a few months ago. (BTW I have a 3090, 19-11900 based system)
I had originally owned a Vive and then moved to a Rift S. My next step was going to be an Index but it was not initially available in Canada… and then I “just” about pulled the trigger on the G2. My concern with the G2 was the sweet spot issues that some, but certainly not all, experienced. Given that I am a race sim and flight sim guy when the Aero was announced it seemed logical to me as it met most of my requirements. It took about 3 months to arrive.
The first thing that struck me when I put it on was the clarity. Up came the Windows desktop and it was vivid. No pixilation, no screen door effect, no blurriness etc… it was just a perfectly clear desktop at a very high resolution. The headset does have an automatic IPD setup so you are ready to go as soon as you put it on. The second thing that struck me was the brightness and colour. My other headsets all had slightly muted or duller colours - this certainly did not - a bright strong picture. The third thing that quickly dawned on me was that there was no sweet spot. None. It was all one contiguous clear view.
Before I discuss any sims let me point out two other things. I certainly do not want to portray this as perfect because nothing is. So let me discuss 3 things, two of which have a happy ending. After some use I noted 3 things 1) Some barrel distortion 2) some chromatic aberration 3) A slightly smaller vertical FOV that I expected. I need not dwell on points 1 and 2 as a software update a week ago (version 3.5 of their Base software) took care of them for me. I now have no distortion and the chromatic aberration is 98% gone. And there are more software updates to come as this is still a new device. The device does have a slightly narrower vertical FOV than my Rift S but the horizontal feels the same. Small price to pay for the clarity I see but hopefully someday we will have it all.
Performance was my next concern. With this high resolution (the default is high - but you can set it up or down) was I going to suffer performance loss? The answer is no. On every app to date I have either held constant or gained on the performance of my previous headsets. Microsoft Flight Simulator was the most extreme example given that it uses OpenXR rather than OpenVR. With the Rift S I was suffering some stuttering issues even with a 3090. I used the same settings with the Aero at a higher resolution and it was smooth as butter. I have yet to run a sim at high settings and have a performance issue with my setup and the Aero. I am sure I could max things out in a given sim and experience issues but on more than acceptable settings it is just fine.
First sim I tried was Automobilista 2. The VR implementation I knew to be good from my past experience with the Rift S. It turned out to be wonderful from all points of view. I have spent more time in it than any other sim to date. I then tried the original Assetto Corsa - it too was wonderful. My third sim was ACC and I left it to third for a reason. I dearly love the sim but the VR implementation has never really got there. Don’t get me wrong it ran very smoothly and looked OK on the Aero but I am afraid the graphics of the VR implementation just will never be up there with the others. I then moved on to my flight sims and if you use MSFS 2020, DCS or IL2 you are in for a treat (it saved MSFS for me). I have also tried Alyx and it was a treat and a joy to see it like this.
Anyway… sorry for rambling on but as you can tell I am having fun. I have an RSeat with all the appropriate Racing and Flight/HOTAS peripherals and the Aero was the one thing that put the icing on the cake.
I had originally owned a Vive and then moved to a Rift S. My next step was going to be an Index but it was not initially available in Canada… and then I “just” about pulled the trigger on the G2. My concern with the G2 was the sweet spot issues that some, but certainly not all, experienced. Given that I am a race sim and flight sim guy when the Aero was announced it seemed logical to me as it met most of my requirements. It took about 3 months to arrive.
The first thing that struck me when I put it on was the clarity. Up came the Windows desktop and it was vivid. No pixilation, no screen door effect, no blurriness etc… it was just a perfectly clear desktop at a very high resolution. The headset does have an automatic IPD setup so you are ready to go as soon as you put it on. The second thing that struck me was the brightness and colour. My other headsets all had slightly muted or duller colours - this certainly did not - a bright strong picture. The third thing that quickly dawned on me was that there was no sweet spot. None. It was all one contiguous clear view.
Before I discuss any sims let me point out two other things. I certainly do not want to portray this as perfect because nothing is. So let me discuss 3 things, two of which have a happy ending. After some use I noted 3 things 1) Some barrel distortion 2) some chromatic aberration 3) A slightly smaller vertical FOV that I expected. I need not dwell on points 1 and 2 as a software update a week ago (version 3.5 of their Base software) took care of them for me. I now have no distortion and the chromatic aberration is 98% gone. And there are more software updates to come as this is still a new device. The device does have a slightly narrower vertical FOV than my Rift S but the horizontal feels the same. Small price to pay for the clarity I see but hopefully someday we will have it all.
Performance was my next concern. With this high resolution (the default is high - but you can set it up or down) was I going to suffer performance loss? The answer is no. On every app to date I have either held constant or gained on the performance of my previous headsets. Microsoft Flight Simulator was the most extreme example given that it uses OpenXR rather than OpenVR. With the Rift S I was suffering some stuttering issues even with a 3090. I used the same settings with the Aero at a higher resolution and it was smooth as butter. I have yet to run a sim at high settings and have a performance issue with my setup and the Aero. I am sure I could max things out in a given sim and experience issues but on more than acceptable settings it is just fine.
First sim I tried was Automobilista 2. The VR implementation I knew to be good from my past experience with the Rift S. It turned out to be wonderful from all points of view. I have spent more time in it than any other sim to date. I then tried the original Assetto Corsa - it too was wonderful. My third sim was ACC and I left it to third for a reason. I dearly love the sim but the VR implementation has never really got there. Don’t get me wrong it ran very smoothly and looked OK on the Aero but I am afraid the graphics of the VR implementation just will never be up there with the others. I then moved on to my flight sims and if you use MSFS 2020, DCS or IL2 you are in for a treat (it saved MSFS for me). I have also tried Alyx and it was a treat and a joy to see it like this.
Anyway… sorry for rambling on but as you can tell I am having fun. I have an RSeat with all the appropriate Racing and Flight/HOTAS peripherals and the Aero was the one thing that put the icing on the cake.
