{"id":636558,"date":"2025-12-16T19:05:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T19:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/636558\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T19:05:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T19:05:43","slug":"pimax-crystal-super-hands-on-a-really-super-visual-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/636558\/","title":{"rendered":"Pimax Crystal Super Hands-On: a really super visual experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I have the huge pleasure to host a new article by the amazing Rob Cole, which put his hands on a Pimax Crystal Super headset<\/strong> and performed a super (pun intended) deep-dive on it together with his powerful PCVR setup. I thank Rob a lot for this Christmas gift of this super-detailed post and I invite you all to keep reading to discover this very poweful headset.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pimax Crystal Super 50ppd first look. Exclusive for Skarredghost by Rob Cole<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pimaxHave a SUPER Christmas! (Image by S. Ramos and Rob Cole)<\/p>\n

INTRODUCTION<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: Pimax supplied the Crystal Super 50ppd and DMAS off-ear speakers for this review.<\/p>\n

Here in this exclusive article for Skarredghost, I\u2019m having a first look at Pimax\u2019s Crystal Super PCVR\u00a0 headset.<\/strong> The \u201cSuper\u201d launched earlier this year as the flagship model of their Reality series, joining the earlier \u201cCrystal\u201d and its baby brother, the Crystal \u201cLight\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Crystal<\/a> and the Light<\/a> have been previously reviewed in some considerable depth by this author for the Ghost Howls. Having spent the past two years using a Lighthouse-tracked Crystal with DMAS <\/strong>as my daily driver, I was intrigued to find out how the new higher specification model would compare. Was it to be a Super Christmas??<\/p>\n

\"pimaxCrystal Reality series \u2013 Light (left), Super (middle), Crystal (right) (Image by S. Ramos and Rob Cole)<\/p>\n

This first look at the Crystal 50PPD will be followed by a more in-depth review next year,<\/strong> featuring the new lighthouse faceplate and a full complement of Studioform Creative comfort accessories.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be applying some mods and tricks<\/strong> learned from using the Crystal headsets during the past two years. It may even be possible to review one of the different optical modules<\/strong>, depending on availability.<\/p>\n

[Note by Tony: If this super long article is just the \u201cfirst look\u201d, I am scared by the length of the \u201cmore in-depth review\u201d\u2026 is it going to be a full book? :D]<\/p>\n

THE PIMAX CRYSTAL SUPER<\/p>\n

The Crystal Super is Pimax\u2019s new high-resolution, DisplayPort tethered PCVR headset<\/strong>, and is unusual in boasting a replaceable \u201coptical module\u201d. This large module contains the displays and lenses with some electronics and motors, and is designed to \u201cplug and play\u201d with the Pimax Play runtime, which should detect the relevant module and adjust the distortion profile to suit.<\/p>\n

Users can choose from one of four optical modules<\/strong>, as well as purchase additional module(s) at the time of purchase, or in the future if required. The optical module design lends the headset a certain degree of future-proofing<\/strong>, allowing users to purchase modules with higher specifications or make cost-effective repairs once out of warranty.<\/p>\n

This QLED 50PPD<\/strong> test unit reports 100% render resolution as 6240 x 6280 per eye in SteamVR with Pimax Play set at 1.0<\/strong>, providing a peak resolution of 50 PPD (pixels per degree),<\/strong> which is very impressive stuff.<\/p>\n

Both the Crystal and Light had peak resolution of 35PPD at 100% render resolution (4312\u00d75104 per eye<\/strong>), so this new Super 50PPD module with its 3.8K panels is a sizeable jump upwards in terms of visual acuity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"PimaxThe Super Optical Module (Image by Pimax)<\/p>\n

There is a second QLED module with 57 PPD <\/strong>but a narrower field of view (106 degrees) that gets very close to what is considered retina resolution of 60 PPD (1 Arc Minute). Due to the reduced FOV, the render resolution is also lower than on the 50PPD model, making it slightly less demanding on the GPU.<\/p>\n

A third QLED 50PPD ultrawide module with a horizontal FOV of 140 degrees<\/strong> is available: it has less stereo overlap as its trade-off, for those who want the widest FOV. <\/p>\n

And finally, there is also a new Sony 53 PPD MicroOLED-based module with custom pancake lenses<\/strong>, currently in pre-production testing by a select group of experienced VR users. Despite the jump to 53PPD, the render resolution should be less demanding due to the pancake lenses requiring a less heavy distortion profile<\/strong> than aspherical lenses used in the QLED modules.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More information on how to choose the correct module is found here: https:\/\/pimax.com\/blogs\/highlights\/finding-your-perfect-crystal-super-a-guide-to-the-four-visual-engines<\/a><\/p>\n

The rendering resolution will vary between each module, but they operate at a higher resolution compared to the previous generation and require serious compute power <\/strong>to drive at close to full potential in a number of popular games.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"opticalThe various optical engines available for this headset (Image by Pimax)<\/p>\n

The only downside of the modular approach is that it adds a certain degree of weight and bulk <\/strong>because the module has to be received by the headset housing, whereas a fixed system will always be light and smaller \u2013 the new Pimax Dream Air being a good example.<\/p>\n

With VR headsets trending towards smaller and lighter<\/strong>, like the Dream Air<\/a>, MeganeX<\/a>, and Bigscreen Beyond 2, could the Super be the last of the \u201clarge form factor\u201d headsets? Or will the extra field of view and modular approach prove more tempting for hardcore PCVR users?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s great to see that the Super headset, like the earlier Crystal models, has a good degree of modularity with a replaceable faceplate <\/strong>(providing a lighthouse tracking option), SMAS and DMAS speaker options, comfort head strap, replaceable cushions, and USB slots for powered accessories.<\/p>\n

SPECIFICATIONS<\/p>\n

This is what Pimax has to say about the 50PPD model on their website, including price at time of writing:<\/p>\n