I hated this VR headset for a stupid reason (but loved it for others) Varjo Aero

Channel:

The Provoked Prawn

Subscribers:

117,000

Published on February 4, 2023 5:17:31 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbP3kJaGDS4

Game:

SteamVR (2016)

Duration: 10:07

923 views

38

Here I want to talk to you about the Varjo Aero and the stupid mistake I made while using it that meant I basically couldn't use it because Steam VR would not recognise the controllers. So it was essentially impossible to use. This was driving me insane as I struggled to work out why - but then the issue was solved by Varjo support who pointed out that the original Vive wands wouldn't work with the Steam VR 2.0 base stations. So I had to get some of the older base stations in order to sort it.

This is a stupid problem to have frankly, but something to highlight because as standard the headset doesn't come with the controllers nor does it come with tracking base stations, so you have to either already have those or purchase them yourself. So make sure you buy the right things...


Please note links listed here include affiliate links which may earn me a commission. Find out more below.*
Amazon US - https://amzn.to/3RsGKug
Official site - https://varjo.com/products/aero/

This is obviously part of the PC master race PCVR experience. If you want the very best visuals and the best possible VR experience then you have to put up with a few things. Once of those is needing the faff of tracking base stations and the space to set those up. Which is a pain.

The other downside is you need to be wired to a high end PC and this thing is a bit of a beast that requires a decent PC in order to run. You can see some of the sort of specs Varjo recommends here - https://varjo.com/varjo-ready-computers/ but for reference this is the build I used during this process:

Asus ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4 motherboard (https://youtu.be/2IQCnkzKtps)
Intel Core i9-13900K CPU
Kingston FURY Beast RGB SE 32GB RAM
Kingston KC3000 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-tbmsK9V_g)
Lian Li Dynamic Evo (https://youtu.be/4vc2P-nnY5E)
Corsair HX1500i PSU (https://youtu.be/kq2B2HKNjRY)
NZXT Kraken Z73 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bzSBKgUghs)
Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 16GB AMP Extreme AIRO https://youtu.be/gxq1jKZdd5c

The Varjo Aero is an expensive headset, but that's because it boasts some serious specs and really nice features too. It has eye tracking that allows for foveated rendering, which means it's less taxing on your system but also looks stunning. I cranked up the rendering resolution on a lot of games I've played in the past and got to see some much better looking visuals than before. Using Varjo Base (the software) you can adjust the PPD count, but you can also up the settings in game or via Steam VR to make for some amazing views.

This headset is also insanely comfortable, despite being tied to a PC (I hate wires dammit) and the face padding also blocks out basically ALL light from your environment which makes it easy to wear and fully immerses you in the game.

Things that annoyed me about the headset:
No built in speakers (weird for this price)
A faff to setup (it should really come with everything you need)
No passthrough cameras (so you have to take it off to see the world around you or fix issues on your PC)

Things I loved:
The eye tracking is super impressive
The visuals are breath taking
It's superbly comfortable to wear

Specs of the headset:
DISPLAYS
Dual Mini LED LCD; 2880 x 2720 px per eye
Brightness: Calibrated to 150 NIT
Colors: Calibrated with coverage of 99% sRGB, 95% DCI-P3
Refresh rate: 90 Hz

OPTICS
Custom-made variable resolution aspheric lenses with 35 PPD peak fidelity
Edge-to-edge clarity; no reflections, no ghost rays

FIELD OF VIEW
Horizontal: 115°
Diagonal: 134° at 12 mm eye relief

INTERPUPILLARY DISTANCE (IPD)
Automatic IPD adjustment with motor
Supported IPD range: 57–73 mm
AUDIO
3.5 mm audio jack
In-ear headphones with mic in-box
WEIGHT
487 g + headband 230 g (including counterweight)
DIMENSIONS
Width 200 mm, height 170 mm, length 300 mm
CONNECTIVITY
Headset adapter and USB-C cable (5-metre) in-box
PC connections: DisplayPort and USB-A 3.0
POSITIONAL TRACKING
SteamVR™ 2.0/1.0
EYE TRACKING
200 Hz with sub-degree accuracy; 1-dot calibration for foveated rendering
COMFORT & WEARABILITY
3-point precision fit headband
Replaceable, easy-to-clean polyurethane face cushions
Active cooling

🏆Big thanks to my super awesome YouTube members:
SirSpawnsALot, Meatykeyboard, Beaster Bunny, JayShank007, Rawrr483, DStarastins, McFarty, Riggsy79, Chief Hao, Kraken Tortoise, Aaron Yarden, Paolo madamba, Space Cannons, Mike S, Kyle and Jason🏆


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