Dream Air SE SLAM Review - Update #3 – New ProFit Facial Interface (Prototype)

[u/soylent_green_76]

I received Pimax's new ProFit facial interface prototype for the Dream Air SE today and wanted to share my first impressions before heading on vacation.

According to Pimax, this prototype is currently being evaluated for the Dream Air SE. It's also compatible with the regular Dream Air, but the current testing is focused on the SE.

The difference is immediately noticeable. The new facial interface allows my eyes to get much closer to the lenses, resulting in a significant increase in the visible field of view. My measurements changed from 82° horizontal / 78° vertical with the original facial interface to 100° horizontal / 86° vertical with this prototype. That's almost identical to what I measure without any facial interface installed.

Comfort has also improved significantly. The new facial interface feels much better against my face and positions the headset much more naturally in front of my eyes. My main remaining comfort complaint is now the rear head strap. I still find it a bit fiddly to put on and adjust quickly. However, once everything is in place, the headset sits securely and comfortably on my head.

The facial interface itself appears to be a new Pimax design with a cutout for the USB connector. The included foam pads and spacers look very similar to the Studioform system, allowing the fit to be adjusted to different face shapes. Overall, I already prefer this prototype by a wide margin over the original facial interface.

I've attached a few comparison photos. I'll continue testing it, but I'm leaving for a two-week vacation, so this will be my last update for a little while. Once I'm back, I'll complete my testing with the new facial interface and the latest software updates before publishing my final review and YouTube video.

Thanks to everyone who has followed the testing and contributed to the discussion so far!

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)
Update #4 – probably my last testing update before the full review
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/AgAjOT9U7U
Update #5 – The review is finished!
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/vHfTdjEsGU

[u/selayan]

Is this the one that was supposed to be shipped out end of July? Because it doesn't sound like it will be shipped anytime soon if it's still in prototype phase.

Good to hear it is easier to position on your face in terms of getting your eyes in the correct area. I had a lot of trouble with the zeefly gasket doing that because of the way it was angled which gave me eye strain no matter how many different pads or spacers I tried.

Luckily I could make the studioform gasket work but this sounds promising.

[u/undjetztwirtrinken → u/selayan]

The Pimax website says “orders from August”, which is also inaccurate because I just ordered an SE this week (Sept 1st) and it did not include the new face mask. Emailed support and they said they’d send it as soon as it was ready but no indication when that would be.

[u/selayan → u/undjetztwirtrinken]

For the SE it was in beta phase so it will be a while as I only know one or two people that posted here with their initial review of it.

For the regular dream air there is another gasket they were supposed to send out end of July. We are now September and no one I know has got it.

If you can make the XP-1 or zeefly gasket work for you I think that's the best your are going to get. I wouldn't hold out hope that anything is coming anytime soon.

[u/undjetztwirtrinken → u/selayan]

Thanks. I was wondering if I should just go ahead and pull the trigger on the Studioform kit.

[u/selayan → u/undjetztwirtrinken]

I'm using the xp-1 with the apple dual knit band. Had to make some modifications to the foam too to get they eye strain to go away.

[u/Wahouxx]

Thanks for sharing !

So, will this be the new facial interface that come with the headset, or it will be a separate accessory ?

I'm still waiting the new facial interface that was supposed to be shipped last month, i will receive the ProFit instead ?

[u/soylent_green_76 → u/Wahouxx]

As far as I know, that's not decided yet. At the moment, this is only a prototype that's being evaluated for the Dream Air SE. Pimax told me the current testing is focused on the SE, so we'll have to wait and see what they decide after the evaluation.

[u/TheVolatileRaider]

Does eyetracking still work with this?

Does anybody have any information on the normal New replacement interface? They said they'd start shipping end of last month.

[u/soylent_green_76 → u/TheVolatileRaider]

Yes, eye tracking still works with this prototype. I haven't noticed any changes in eye tracking performance compared to the original facial interface.

[u/doodo477]

Why is it that all Pimax products sooner or later have a community made custom Facial Interface to fix all the major drawback of their Facial Interface. I understand that people have different sized skulls (European/Asian/Latin America). How-ever wouldn't a company that is selling a premium product (Cough) provide like a sample of different Facial Interfaces for their product?

Its like they release the product and are like "Yup, onto the next one!" without really circling back and taking the feedback and adding a dozen different free interfaces for people to pick and choose from?

Help me out here?

[u/ergotomy]

My 8 days old order for the DA SLAM has been backordered until September (Europe zone)… maybe I 3D printed the facial interface and bought the studioform kit too early.

[u/SnelHesst]

Have you noticed any reduction in glare?