Valve Index Headset Only

This is the Valve Index HEADSET ONLY, compatible with Controllers for Valve Index, HTC Vive, or HTC Vive Pro. and Base Station 1.0 or Base Station 2.0

The headset

• Integrated headphones with off-ear design
• Headsize adjustment wheel
• Eye relief and IPD slider

Valve says the new headset has been designed with a focus on “fidelity first” – meaning a focus on visuals, audio and ergonomic design to create a VR headset that’s a joy to use.

Based on what we know from the images and specs, this new headset should indeed be comfortable to use. It has various premium design features similar to those we’ve seen on other VR headsets. This includes use of padded and woven antimicrobial fabrics on the headbands, swappable face pads and various size adjustment options.

Apparently, the Valve Index will not only adjust to the size of your head but will also be able to be tweaked to sit nicely on your face with comfort further enhanced by IPD and eye-relief adjustment options.

As well as housing a number of tacking lenses, the front of this new headset also includes a pair of global-shutter RGB cameras. These will enable pass-through to give you a vision of the room around you. This tech also opens up options for developers to make use of these cameras in their content.

Headphones

It looks like Valve is trying something a little different, and lot interesting, with its built-in headphones on the Index. Using the Term “Off-Ear Immersion”, they say it gives you a far more realistic sound than having them touching.

Firstly they are going to much more comfortable. Having headphones on for long periods of time while you are physically doing things makes you sweaty and uncomfortable in fairly short order. With these new headphones though you will be able to keep cool.

The headphones have, according to Valve, been designed so “…the sound interacts with the geometry of the outer ear and the head.” This is not really something I’ve ever heard and I will be interested to see how much outside noise breaks through the headphones. Maybe having headphones touching your ear breaks immersion as Valve says, but I know my baby shouting at the dog certainly will.

Display visuals

• Dual 1440×1600 LCDs
• Up to 144Hz refresh rate
• 20 degree wider Field of View than HTC Vive
• IPD adjustor with 58mm – 70mm range

The Valve Index is designed to offer the “best-in-class” VR experiences, as such, you’d expect some fairly decent specs. This headset sports two LCDs offering a resolution of 1440×1600 per eye, that’s the same as the HTC Vive Pro. However, Valve claims these RGB LCDs offer 50 per cent more subpixels than the traditional OLED screens which result in improved sharpness.

PC requirements for Valve Index

Minimum PC requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10
• Processor: Dual Core with Hyper-Threading
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, AMD RX480
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Additional Notes: Available DisplayPort (Version 1.2) and USB (2.0+) Port Required

Recommended PC

• Processor: Quad Core or better
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or better
• Additional Notes: Available USB (3.0+) Port Required for Headset Pass-Through Camera & USB Port Support

In the box

• Valve Index Headset (only)
• Integrated Headphones
• Headset Cable
• Connection Cable featuring DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.0 Connections
• Warranty bill 3 month
• Free shipping Vietnam