tl;dr - five steps forward, 1 step back.
This is a premium product - the packaging and the fit and feel of the device itself is first class - lots of small details that keep popping out. But then there are some small ones that make you go "why?" For example the strap system is brilliant - spring loaded is the way to go over crappy old elastic, definitely a massive improvement from the DK2. It's so easy to put the headset on once you have it broadly adjusted for yourself via the velcro fastenings, you just put it on a bit like a baseball cap - back bit in place, pull the front forward lightly against the springs, drop into place and let the springs relax. 7 times out of 10 the built in headphones will also be in the right place for me straight away, the other 3 takes all of 2 seconds to align them. But why did they attach to cable to the left strap in such a poor way? It just has a plastic band that the cable can slip through meaning it'll adopt the position of least resistance (i.e. flat with the strap) and means the spring thing doesn't always work fluidly on the left side. Such a trivial detail could have been fixed with a clip for the cable so it maintained it's length between clip and HMD when the strap was extended. I easily fixed this with a small black cable tie, but shouldn't need "fixing". Again, this is a very minor detail - don't let it put you off! New thought - perhaps the existing band is supposed to be looser than it is on mine, so the cable slides through as the spring extends. Hmm.
The built in earphones are brilliant! Sound quality I would describe as very, very good (if not Earth shattering) but I weep with joy every time I put the headset on and don't have to faff about with external headphones! Coming from long use of the DK1 and DK2 this is an absolute delight to use and definitely the way ahead for user acceptance of VR. Also, if you are a hi fi snob, they detach very easily so you can use your own cans - although all but the most sniffy of people will stick with the built-ins for the massive boost in convenience and comfort I think. And it's a no brainer that if the headset takes off then replacement phones will be made by some third parties, given how easy they are to fit (single screw, spring contacts.) This is written by someone who's spent days and days in the local hi-fi shop auditioning new amps and speakers by the way - I've been a bit of a snob myself when it comes to the sound I want.
I sold my DK2 some weeks ago so cannot make a direct comparison but even if this unit is heavier, it feels lighter to me. Perhaps some of that is the headphone difference.
Visually when I put it on I was really impressed, by and large. Clarity is somewhat improved over the DK2, SDE is much reduced and chromatic aberration seems to be gone completely. There is a big change in clarity as you move your eyes, rather than your head, around the presented image. But then we have god rays/smear. Yes, these are much more noticeable than on the DK2 but with well thought out games it won't be a serious factor. Weirdly the very worst I have seen is in Oculus own Farlands loading screen - the robot thingy at the start is a large, bright object on pure black and, as it's a loading screen and nothing is happening, you have nothing to do but notice the smears! No idea why they did that when this game, in play, has absolutely no issues with smear. In fact with most things I've tried the smear disappears as a noticeable concern when the action starts and you're "doing stuff". It's still there if you look for it, but not usually to a degree that will annoy. This is the "one step back" of my tl;dr. In all other ways it's much improved and definitely worth the sacrifice for the visual improvements it brings (IMHO).
Oh, another ergonomic thing - there is a nose gap and it can let light in. Doesn't bother me, in fact I like it, but it's worth noting. They should probably have had a little flap like the Vive has. Someone will probably start selling an overpriced flap but it's easily fixable if you feel the need.
As for ED, well I've not played it much yet. Sadly I've been playing the kiddie game Farlands far too much! But I did have a quick pop into ED and the standouts over the DK2 are fairly predictable - much easier to read text, sharper overall image, less SDE and smooth as silk FPS. I never got to try the DK2 on the 1.3 runtime so this was new to me but I understand it's just as good on the DK2. I plan on giving this a longer run tonight so may add some more impressions.
That's about it. I was in two minds about CV1/Vive and nearly got both. But I feel they're so similar that saving the money for gen 2 or wasting it on something else (as I did - S7 Edge) was the better path. There really is no need to own both of these at this stage. If you're desperate for room scale/hand controllers then just get the Vive and forgo the Rift. If you can wait then I'm certain that the Rift and Touch will deliver a comparable experience and, for me, I know it will actually be better - seriously, the ergonomics/headphone issue is a killer feature for me, but I realise everyone has their own priorities.
This is a premium product - the packaging and the fit and feel of the device itself is first class - lots of small details that keep popping out. But then there are some small ones that make you go "why?" For example the strap system is brilliant - spring loaded is the way to go over crappy old elastic, definitely a massive improvement from the DK2. It's so easy to put the headset on once you have it broadly adjusted for yourself via the velcro fastenings, you just put it on a bit like a baseball cap - back bit in place, pull the front forward lightly against the springs, drop into place and let the springs relax. 7 times out of 10 the built in headphones will also be in the right place for me straight away, the other 3 takes all of 2 seconds to align them. But why did they attach to cable to the left strap in such a poor way? It just has a plastic band that the cable can slip through meaning it'll adopt the position of least resistance (i.e. flat with the strap) and means the spring thing doesn't always work fluidly on the left side. Such a trivial detail could have been fixed with a clip for the cable so it maintained it's length between clip and HMD when the strap was extended. I easily fixed this with a small black cable tie, but shouldn't need "fixing". Again, this is a very minor detail - don't let it put you off! New thought - perhaps the existing band is supposed to be looser than it is on mine, so the cable slides through as the spring extends. Hmm.
The built in earphones are brilliant! Sound quality I would describe as very, very good (if not Earth shattering) but I weep with joy every time I put the headset on and don't have to faff about with external headphones! Coming from long use of the DK1 and DK2 this is an absolute delight to use and definitely the way ahead for user acceptance of VR. Also, if you are a hi fi snob, they detach very easily so you can use your own cans - although all but the most sniffy of people will stick with the built-ins for the massive boost in convenience and comfort I think. And it's a no brainer that if the headset takes off then replacement phones will be made by some third parties, given how easy they are to fit (single screw, spring contacts.) This is written by someone who's spent days and days in the local hi-fi shop auditioning new amps and speakers by the way - I've been a bit of a snob myself when it comes to the sound I want.
I sold my DK2 some weeks ago so cannot make a direct comparison but even if this unit is heavier, it feels lighter to me. Perhaps some of that is the headphone difference.
Visually when I put it on I was really impressed, by and large. Clarity is somewhat improved over the DK2, SDE is much reduced and chromatic aberration seems to be gone completely. There is a big change in clarity as you move your eyes, rather than your head, around the presented image. But then we have god rays/smear. Yes, these are much more noticeable than on the DK2 but with well thought out games it won't be a serious factor. Weirdly the very worst I have seen is in Oculus own Farlands loading screen - the robot thingy at the start is a large, bright object on pure black and, as it's a loading screen and nothing is happening, you have nothing to do but notice the smears! No idea why they did that when this game, in play, has absolutely no issues with smear. In fact with most things I've tried the smear disappears as a noticeable concern when the action starts and you're "doing stuff". It's still there if you look for it, but not usually to a degree that will annoy. This is the "one step back" of my tl;dr. In all other ways it's much improved and definitely worth the sacrifice for the visual improvements it brings (IMHO).
Oh, another ergonomic thing - there is a nose gap and it can let light in. Doesn't bother me, in fact I like it, but it's worth noting. They should probably have had a little flap like the Vive has. Someone will probably start selling an overpriced flap but it's easily fixable if you feel the need.
As for ED, well I've not played it much yet. Sadly I've been playing the kiddie game Farlands far too much! But I did have a quick pop into ED and the standouts over the DK2 are fairly predictable - much easier to read text, sharper overall image, less SDE and smooth as silk FPS. I never got to try the DK2 on the 1.3 runtime so this was new to me but I understand it's just as good on the DK2. I plan on giving this a longer run tonight so may add some more impressions.
That's about it. I was in two minds about CV1/Vive and nearly got both. But I feel they're so similar that saving the money for gen 2 or wasting it on something else (as I did - S7 Edge) was the better path. There really is no need to own both of these at this stage. If you're desperate for room scale/hand controllers then just get the Vive and forgo the Rift. If you can wait then I'm certain that the Rift and Touch will deliver a comparable experience and, for me, I know it will actually be better - seriously, the ergonomics/headphone issue is a killer feature for me, but I realise everyone has their own priorities.
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