In September 2017, Pimax launched a Kickstarter marketing campaign to assist fund the event of an ultrawide, extremely excessive decision VR headset referred to as the Pimax 8K. It ended up providing a 200-degree area of view (FOV) and twin 4K decision shows for higher picture readability and fewer display door impact. On the time, these specs have been extraordinary and scarcely plausible. Nevertheless it’s 2020 now, and whereas ultrawide headsets are hardly commonplace, twin 4K decision is just not as surprising a metric.
That is the market by which the Pimax Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus ($899 (opens in new tab) MSRP) is competing for the title of Finest VR Headset. In the end, the headset can present a premium expertise, however you’ll want some VR expertise of your individual with the intention to handle the quantity of calibration wanted to get the HMD operating at max potential.
Pimax Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus Specs
Panel | Twin 4K LCD RGB pixel Matrix panels |
Per-eye Decision | 3840 x 2160 |
Lens | 2x Fresne |
Refresh Fee | 72 Hz, 90 Hz or 110 Hz beta |
MTP latency | 15ms (typical) |
Max FOV | Diagonal: 200 levels |
Row 6 – Cell 0 | Horizontal: 170 levels |
Row 7 – Cell 0 | Vertical: 115 levels |
IPD | Adjustable 2.17-2.98 inches (55-75mm) |
Non-compulsory Modules | Eye monitoring, hand monitoring |
Monitoring assist | 6-DoF SteamVR Lighthouse 1.0& 2.0, built-in 3-DoF monitoring |
A Little Little bit of Historical past
Let’s return to 2017, when Pimax promised its 8K decision head-mounted show (HMD). Regardless of the wild claims and the truth that GPUs of the time weren’t highly effective sufficient to drive such a headset, the marketing campaign drew in additional than $3 million from trusting followers. That is greater than Oculus collected for its Kickstarter marketing campaign in 2013. The early-bird deliveries have been alleged to ship inside just a few months of the marketing campaign, however that did not occur. Pimax endured a number of setbacks all through headset improvement that triggered vital launch delays.
The corporate ultimately launched the headsets it promised after which iterated and created the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus successor on our check bench.
Meet the Pimax Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus
As with all fashionable Pimax HMDs, the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus is ultrawide with an intensive FOV. The headset’s two 4K shows face outward, providing you with extra peripheral imaginative and prescient than the typical VR headset. Pimax advertises a 200-degree diagonal FOV, which places it close to the highest of all headsets, together with enterprise-class gadgets. For comparability, the Valve Index’s FOV goes as much as 130 levels.
Our first impressions of the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus have been optimistic. The brand new headset options the identical sharp-angled shell because the older mannequin. The one distinction apart from colour is that the π emblem is now not embossed on the left-front nook.
Instantly, we seen a big enchancment within the high quality of the HMD’s exterior in comparison with the unique Pimax headsets, the Pimax 8K and Pimax 5K Plus The 5K Plus’ fragile shell left lots to be desired, however the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus encompasses a soft-touch plastic materials that feels a lot sturdier than the older headset. The outdated mannequin flexed and creaked once we dealt with it; this one doesn’t.
Pimax selected a darkish blue dye for the plastic that’s virtually the identical shade because the HTC Vive Professional. We discovered the colour gave the Vive Professional a premium look, and it has the same impact on the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus. The faceplate of the primary Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus that we obtained featured a vibrant inexperienced chevron that lights up when the HMD is powered on, offering a daring distinction in opposition to the blue shell. The alternative headset features a chrome end over the chevron, which nonetheless lights up inexperienced. The chrome was reserved for the Pimax Imaginative and prescient 8K X, however Pimax lately revised the 8K Plus to incorporate these shiny accents.
The ability button and quantity controls are on the highest proper nook of the headset. When the headset has energy however the show is off, the LED subsequent to the facility button is purple. When the panels are on, the sunshine shines purple. The buttons are chrome just like the chevron.
The Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus features a mechanical IPD (interpupillary distance, the quantity of house between the eyes) adjustment, which may set the lenses as shut as 60mm aside and so far as 72.5mm. The large lenses have a big candy spot, so the IPD vary needs to be forgiving for anybody who falls exterior the mechanical vary.
Deliver Your Personal Headphones
The Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus headset doesn’t embrace built-in headphones however does embrace an embedded microphone to seize your voice. The headset has headphone jacks for connecting a pair of headphones or Pimax’s modular audio head strap accent.
We want to make use of a wi-fi headset for audio to keep away from the effort of the additional dangling cable, but it surely’s good to have choices. The headset contains two 3.5mm headphone jacks, however solely the left one works for third-party audio gadgets. The correct jack is particularly for Pimax’s audio head strap accent.
A proprietary 3-in-1 tether cable delivers the sign out of your pc to the headset. The cable contains USB 3.0 for knowledge, DisplayPort 1.2 for the video sign and 12v energy to run the HMD.
The headset additionally gives two USB Sort-C ports to run equipment. The USB-C port on the underside is bolstered with a thick steel bezel and has a agency click on when plugging in an adjunct. That port is supposed for the Extremely Leap hand monitoring accent (bought individually). Pimax additionally partnered with 7invision to develop a watch monitoring module which you could order from the Pimax web site.
The Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus additionally features a second USB-C port on the highest of the headset, however, sadly, it is probably not usable. There seem like two vital flaws within the design. The port is recessed contained in the higher fringe of the HMD, and the opening round it’s too small for some USB cables.
We discovered just a few wires that may match into the opening however then seen one other downside: The cables that did match into the opening stick out too far and get in the way in which of the consolation equipment. Pimax would want to develop a customized cable for any equipment that use this port.
What’s a Consolation Equipment?
The Pimax Consolation Equipment is an upgraded foam facial interface meant to enhance the headset’s fitment. It’s out there as an improve for older Pimax HMDs, but it surely’s an ordinary part on the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus. In case you need not use the highest USB-C port, the Consolation Equipment is a worthy improve.
In impact, the Consolation Equipment is a broader and taller foam cushion and bracket with a rubber nostril guard to scale back mild bleed. The cushion seals off mild fairly nicely. We solely seen mild bleeding in when a vibrant mild supply, resembling pictures lights, was instantly behind us. In case you actually strive, you may spot the ground via a tiny sliver.
That is a Massive Brow
The cushion on the Consolation Equipment is rather more snug than the froth on the 5K Plus. It could be probably the most snug headset cushion that we have but tried. The cushion extends above the sting of the visor, which provides it a a lot bigger, extra supportive brow space that helps steadiness and distributes the load higher than rivals.
Absorption is the consolation equipment’s largest draw back. The cushion on the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus is made of froth materials that wicks up moisture like no person’s enterprise. In case you play video games that make you sweat, the cushion will get ugly quick. It is a disgrace that Pimax did not go for a moisture-resistant materials just like the PU leather-based present in VR Cowl equipment. Sadly, VR Cowl doesn’t assist Pimax headsets right now.
At CES 2020, Pimax stated it might provide a number of cushion choices, together with a PU leather-based and an antimicrobial possibility. To this point, these cushion choices have by no means been provided on the market.
No Mechanical Head Strap
Though the Consolation Equipment helps make the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus match higher than the 5K Plus, the headstrap suggestions the steadiness within the unsuitable path. Unbelievably, the brand new strap is in some methods worse than the one which got here with our pre-production Pimax 5K Plus M2.
Our assessment unit of the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus didn’t include the optionally available modular audio head strap. As a substitute, we discovered a nylon 3-point harness within the field, which we needed to set up ourselves. Annoyingly, the top strap set up required the removing of the Consolation Equipment, which got here preinstalled from the manufacturing unit. It might’ve been good to have the strap preinstalled on the manufacturing unit or the Consolation Equipment left uninstalled, so that you would not should tear it off as quickly as you obtain the headset.
The 5K Plus we reviewed in 2019 had some straps to tie down the tether cable in order that it exits the headset on the rear. The Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus doesn’t embrace any guides to direct the tether cable alongside the facet. We routed the cable via an elastic on the rear of the strap, however that’s not a super answer.
It would not be honest to say that the brand new strap is worse in all methods. Pimax did widen the higher strap to assist distribute the system’s weight, but it surely’s a really delicate distinction. For the worth that Pimax asks for this headset, a mechanical strap needs to be customary tools.
Picture Readability
At first look, the standard of the Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus’ shows appeared very spectacular. Picture readability appeared to rival the perfect HMDs that we’ve examined. Nonetheless, it quickly turned obvious that that is considerably of an phantasm.
Particulars, resembling our fingers, the gadgets we carried, and close by partitions, have been clear, and the display door impact practically imperceptible, however objects within the distance appeared considerably hazy. After taking part in round with the various calibration settings, together with render decision, FOV and refresh charge, we discovered that the picture readability is very depending on the way in which you arrange the screens and the way highly effective your pc is. Nonetheless, the headset screens have poor colour copy, so it doesn’t matter what we do, vibrant particulars appeared washed out. Black ranges may enhance too, and that’s not one thing we’re normally choosy about.
The Imaginative and prescient 8K Plus’ ultrawide lenses introduce a kind of distortion that we have solely skilled with Pimax headsets. The outer extremities of our FOV had a warped look to them. This phenomenon goes again to the unique prototype of the Pimax 8K that we tried years in the past. As a lot as Pimax has improved the distortion with software program, the issue persists, and we’re not hopeful a couple of answer.
You’ve two choices, and neither one is an ideal answer. You’ll be able to both dwell with the distortion in your peripheral imaginative and prescient or use Pimax’s PiTool software program to restrict the FOV to cover the imperfection, which sort of defeats the aim of shopping for an ultrawide headset.
The issue is even worse while you run your show on the fringes of its skill. With the HMD’s refresh charge set to 110 Hz, the extremities of the display produced a chromatic blue shimmering blue impact.
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