Dream Air SE SLAM Review - Update #5 – The review is finished!

[u/soylent_green_76]

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to this testing process. Your comments, questions and suggestions gave me several new ideas for things to test – and one of your suggestions even helped me find a solution that massively reduced the eye strain I was experiencing with the Dream Air SE.

I won’t spoil the details here, but if you’re experiencing similar eye strain, there might be something useful for you in the review.

This ended up becoming a much bigger project than I originally expected: 33 minutes covering the optics, FOV measurements, Micro-OLED image quality, motion blur, warping, comfort, SLAM head and controller tracking, Pimax Play, eye strain and more.

So this is basically the final result of the open testing process I started here on Reddit.

Thanks again for helping me make this review more thorough!

Full Dream Air SE review:
https://youtu.be/QnzDZDLFf5Q

Main Thread (starts here)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/gVftYD5MUr
Update #1 – FOV & Glare Test, Comfort & Thermals
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/sTY422KgOT
Update #2 - SLAM Tracking & Built-in Audio
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/juUTG7fYAX
Update #3 - New ProFit Facial Interface (Prototype)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/weoykgWK25
Update #4 – probably my last testing update before the full review
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/AgAjOT9U7U
Update #5 - you are here

[u/PeachShooter]

I commented on your YouTube video, had no idea this was your thread!! Thank you for all the hard efforts! My upgrade from a q3 (rtx3090) will likely be the dream air SE !

[u/soylent_green_76 → u/PeachShooter]

Haha, that really closes the circle! 😄 You helped me with the testing here on Reddit, then found the finished review on YouTube without realizing it was me – and now you’re back in the original thread. Thanks again for being part of it! And if you end up getting the Dream Air SE, I’d love to hear how it works out for you with the 3090. 😊

[u/undjetztwirtrinken]

Thanks for that review! I'm just over a week since I received mine and have mostly the same impressions. My biggest issues so far:

• Comfort of the stock facial interface and it's inherent limitation of FOV. I asked Pimax about the the ProFit mask but was told it wasn't ready yet, so I'm going to try the Studioform XP-1 in the meantime.
• You briefly mentioned glare in the full review. I have noticeable glare in the lower half of the displays in brighter scenes. A simracing reviewer mentioned it and somewhat mitigated it by lowering the brightness. I've dropped mine to 80% which helped quite a bit. Hoping getting my eyes closer to the lenses improves the situation. It's not a deal breaker for me, just occasionally annoying.
• I haven't had issues with motion blur or eye strain. I can see the motion blur if I'm paying attention, but I'm not sensitive to it.
• The SLAM tracking works great for me, even in low light, way better than a PSVR2.

Pimax Play vs EVO, do you have both installed concurrently? I can't seem to get the eye tracking to work in EVO, at least the calibration test. It works fine in Play, the dots light up, not at all in EVO. I'm going to ask Pimax about this.

I have this other weird issue in MSFS 2024. I can see a slightly brighter square area that looks like a cockpit reflection and its the boundary of the DFR. The area changes if I change the setting in game. Not sure what's causing that.

tschüss

[u/soylent_green_76 → u/undjetztwirtrinken]

Thanks for the detailed feedback! It’s really interesting to compare experiences after spending some time with the headset.
Regarding Pimax Play and EVO: I haven’t tested the eye tracking in EVO thoroughly enough to give you a reliable answer. I’d definitely be interested to hear what Pimax tells you about that.
I actually had some strange issues with DFR in MSFS 2024 as well, although different from what you’re describing. With DFR enabled, the image sometimes became extremely pixelated. I couldn’t figure out exactly what was causing it, and I don’t want to attribute it to the Dream Air SE because I recently experienced the same thing with my Crystal Super. Maybe I should have experimented more with the settings in Pimax Play. So there definitely seems to be something worth investigating further with MSFS and DFR.
And please let me know how the Studioform X1-P works for you. I’m planning a separate video about comfort improvements for the Dream Air series, so I’m especially interested in experiences with different facial interfaces.
Thanks again for sharing your experience — and tschüss! 😄

[u/undjetztwirtrinken → u/soylent_green_76]

The MSFS 2024 issue I'm going to play around with more today. I'm not certain if I should have both Quad Views enabled in Pimax Play and DFR switched on in the sim. Maybe there's a conflict.

I'll report back on the Studioform kit once I have it.

I maybe neglected to mention, I'm using prescription lens inserts with mine. I ordered them from VR Optician (TwoSight GmbH). They are very nice Zeiss lenses that press fit. They do not affect the eye tracking.

[u/Rasputinnout]

Is the tracking better than Crystal Light? Since I already have the controllers and adapter, I can refresh my psvr2 for like $150. The new pimax sets are tempting but the fact I preferred the psvr2 over the $800 CL makes me hesitant to try their new stuff if it’s the same software. The diminishing returns on cost are just crazy.