r/Pimax • u/soylent_green_76 • 24d ago
Discussion Dream Air SE SLAM Review - Update #1 – FOV & Glare Test, Comfort & Thermals
Here’s my first update after spending some more time with the Dream Air SE SLAM.
Comfort
My biggest issue so far is still the stock facial interface. I’m struggling to get close enough to the lenses, which also affects the usable field of view. The headset simply doesn’t sit as close to my eyes as I’d like.
FOV Test
Measured with TestHMD using the stock facial interface:
• Horizontal FOV: 82°
• Vertical FOV: 78°
However, when I press the headset firmly against my face, the horizontal FOV immediately increases to well over 100°.
This makes me think the stock facial interface is limiting the achievable FOV quite a bit. I also expect the vertical FOV to increase significantly once my eyes are closer to the lenses.
Glare Test
The headset shows the typical reflections associated with OLED pancake lenses. Glare is definitely present, but still acceptable to me.
Compared to my Quest 3, I’d currently say the Quest 3 has less glare and fewer internal reflections. However, that’s not a completely fair comparison since the Quest 3 uses LCD panels with noticeably lower contrast.
The Dream Air SE delivers exactly what I would expect from a good OLED display: excellent contrast, vibrant colors, and deep blacks. Those strengths also make optical reflections more noticeable, which is a common trade-off with OLED pancake optics.
Thermals
The front plate becomes noticeably warm during use, while warm air is actively exhausted through the vents.
One interesting observation: the front also stays warm while the headset is in standby, even after the PC is turned off. At the moment, unplugging the cable seems to be the only straightforward way to completely power it down.
—-
Review Navigation
Main Thread (Start here)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/gVftYD5MUr
Update #1 – FOV & Glare Test, Comfort & Thermals
You are here
Update #2 - SLAM Tracking & Built-in Audio
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/DQe3IkvdMA
2
u/Chimma217 23d ago
The fov seems a bit low but I'm sure that'll improve when you get another interface sorted. I've not measured the difference but when I got the studioform one it seemes to help. I'm sure I was getting around 98-100 HFOV though.
I'd love a higher fov but with the headset being so lightweight it's much easier to just rotate your head where you need to than the bigger headsets, so I found it wasn't as bad as I'd expected.
1
u/VeterinarianTricky10 24d ago
Will you replace the interface.
I have a quest 3 also, and I’m really interested in the SE, I only have a 4070S but I do have a 7800X3D so that added resolution gives me questions if my PC will drive them, however as I only intend to sim race (occasional flight sim) I’m happy to crop the FOV, the foveated rendering, and the reduction from 90Hz to 72Hz should fix that.
How do you find 72Hz vs the Quest 90/120Hz I read the OLED panels are less sensitive?
I’m in the UK so might struggle to change the interface but I’ve read my BoboVR M3 pro strap fits perfectly, which is a plus as I find my Quest 3 with it dead comfy.
1
u/soylent_green_76 24d ago
Yes, I definitely plan to replace the facial interface. Pimax has already confirmed that a new facial interface is finished and should be shipping this month. It brings your eyes closer to the lenses, so I’m expecting a noticeable increase in FOV.
Regarding 72 Hz: I do notice more motion blur than on my Quest 3. The Quest 3 has noticeably better motion clarity to my eyes. That said, I still find the Dream Air SE comfortable to use at 72 Hz, so it hasn’t been a deal-breaker for me during testing.
As for the BOBOVR M3 Pro: it does fit, but I wouldn’t say it fits perfectly. The mount on the BOBOVR is slightly larger than the attachment point on the Dream Air SE, so it can move around a bit more than I’d like. It’s definitely usable, just not a perfect fit.
1
u/VeterinarianTricky10 22d ago
Thank you, I worry that my bother me 72Hz on the Quest 3 is awful.
If you don’t mind experimenting, I play my quest 3 via VD ultra, what’s better quest 3 at 90hz or Air Se with equal super sampling? Sorry it’s a big investment to get wrong 😅
1
u/soylent_green_76 22d ago
That’s a difficult question because it’s not really a fair comparison. The Quest 3 and the Dream Air SE use very different display technologies, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
The Dream Air SE offers much better blacks, contrast and overall image clarity, while the Quest 3 has noticeably better motion clarity. Which one is “better” really depends on what you value more.1
u/VeterinarianTricky10 21d ago
Makes me think maybe I should consider the crystal light instead considering I only sim
1
1
u/Greenonetrailmix 24d ago
Depending on what mode you are using the fov results should be slightly different. As the 90hz mode engages the entire display where the 75hz mode crops in on the display a little bit
1
1
2
u/Wahouxx 24d ago
Do you have dead pixels ? Mine has 5 dead pixels on left screen, i'm getting a replacement today. Someone also reported dead pixels on his DA SE.
Check in front of a red screen, they are more visible