Watching 3D Movies on VR (Virtual Reality) Headsets

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Anyone else had positive experiences of using this to watch 3-D?

After two years this headset is still being crowd funded. It doesn't exist as a retail product. There aren't any real reviews, just puff pieces pretending to be. Have they even sent pre-production headsets out to their backers? BTW as can be seen in the Cinera thread, they have a Kickstarter page as well as the Indiegogo page.

[dhvsfan]

Originally Posted by cdx47

After two years this headset is still being crowd funded. It doesn't exist as a retail product. There aren't any real reviews, just puff pieces pretending to be. Have they even sent pre-production headsets out to their backers? BTW as can be seen in the Cinera thread, they have a Kickstarter page as well as the Indiegogo page.

That was going to be my question. Have they shipped any product, in any state to anyone ?
I occasionally check on what is happening but it doesn't seem to progress

[erikottowegner]

Originally Posted by Ferretferret

I usually use a PS4 and PSVR, but, for locked discs, I use an LG USB blu-ray drive and an Oculus Quest 2. Feel free to PM me for a short guide on how to use these; I believe some percent of people may already happen to have both devices for reasons outside of 3D content.

What's the quality of watching a 3D movie on the Oculus vs a 3D tv?

[ryudoadema]

Originally Posted by erikottowegner

What's the quality of watching a 3D movie on the Oculus vs a 3D tv?

Zero crosstalk, full brightness, and great 3d effects on VR headsets. Each headset is different in terms of resolution/blacks/contrast etc since they can be oled or lcd or other variations. Resolution and screen door effect are the main cons (along with blacks on lcd), but they are rapidly improving.

Some non-quality-related benefits of the headsets are you can make the screen as large or small as you want, and you can watch "with" people from anywhere in the world. Cons would be a somewhat clunky helmet over your head...

[Hooded Crow]

Originally Posted by erikottowegner

What's the quality of watching a 3D movie on the Oculus vs a 3D tv?

The nice thing about watching 3D movies on any VR headset is that you get the intended brightness of the movie and no chance of ghosting or other artifacts. Each image is perfectly delivered to the correct eye because you are looking at 2 different displays. You also get to watch it on a cinema sized screen if you want. The only unfortunate limitation is that most headsets are still using LCD panels. A miner draw back that you might not even care about if your current 3D TV is LCD already, but there should be some nice OLED headsets coming out next year. If you have a headset you should download Bigscreen VR and check out some of the 3D trailers. You can rent 3D movies from them as well or watch your own blu-rays if you know what you're doing.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by ryudoadema

Zero crosstalk, full brightness, and great 3d effects on VR headsets. Each headset is different in terms of resolution/blacks/contrast etc since they can be oled or lcd or other variations. Resolution and screen door effect are the main cons (along with blacks on lcd), but they are rapidly improving.

Some non-quality-related benefits of the headsets are you can make the screen as large or small as you want, and you can watch "with" people from anywhere in the world. Cons would be a somewhat clunky helmet over your head...

This pretty much covers everything the OP asks. Just to elaborate on the comments above a little. The Quest 1 has OLED lenses for excellent black levels but at the cost of screen door. I have minimised it to the point where (in 99% of scenes) unless I look for it my brain filters it out. But others may be more sensitive to it. YMMV. The Quest 2 has higher resolution but I can't see it making much difference between the 2 devices. It also has LED lenses which means poorer black levels but also a significantly reduced screen door effect.

The Bigscreen software allows you to watch with others and if you have the bandwidth then the picture quality is very nice and very watchable. But it's not quite as bright and sharp as watching on your own network.

[demonbeast]

Originally Posted by erikottowegner

What's the quality of watching a 3D movie on the Oculus vs a 3D tv?

A fair assessment I suspect is mixed I have the PSVR ver 1.2 headset so I'm sure there are more advanced units but the cost may be significantly greater.

Pro's

You can watch 3D blu rays/content without a 3DTV.

Bigscreen I think that's what it's called is an app which makes it look like you're in a cinema there was /is a choice of three screen sizes which really does work and you feel like you really there.

Brightness wasn't an issue to me on the blu rays I watched in respect to I didn't notice any difference between my 3DTV or on the PSVR.

Con's

Fiddly to set up if you don't have it connected all the time.

The screen door effect is a deal breaker for me personally it looks like a fine mesh across the screen. This depends on the individual you may not notice (unlikely) or just jet accustomed to it.

The reduced resolution combined with the screen door effect hampers the visual presentation. ( Newer or other models will I'm sure elevate this with better higher resolution lenses but I can't comment)

Personally, I don't think it compares with a 3DTV but if you don't have a set or want to watch 3D blu rays or content it might be a budget option.

Hopefully, the upcoming new version of PSVR with its improved lenses will increase the resolution to something approaching a 3DTV.

[cdx47]

Just summarising my various comments in response to your comments below

Originally Posted by demonbeast

A fair assessment I suspect is mixed I have the PSVR ver 1.2 headset so I'm sure there are more advanced units but the cost may be significantly greater.

Pro's
You can watch 3D blu rays/content without a 3DTV. Bigscreen ... Brightness wasn't an issue to me on the blu rays...

Con's
Fiddly to set up if you don't have it connected all the time. The screen door effect is a deal breaker for me personally ... This depends on the individual you may not notice (unlikely) or just jet accustomed to it.

It depends on the scene but in 99% of what I watch I really don't notice the screen door effect unless I look for it. I agree that is partly because I became accustomed to it. Bigscreen is clunky but the picture quality is nice. Still not as good as watching blu-rays on your local network.

Originally Posted by demonbeast

The reduced resolution combined with the screen door effect hampers the visual presentation. ( Newer or other models will I'm sure elevate this with better higher resolution lenses but I can't comment)

The Quest does reduce the problem because of its higher resolution. The Quest 2 has LED lenses and higher resolution so pretty much no screen door effect but you do get raised black levels. I prefer the OLED lenses for superior contrast.

Originally Posted by demonbeast

Personally, I don't think it compares with a 3DTV but if you don't have a set or want to watch 3D blu rays or content it might be a budget option.

The Quest compares well but then I upscale to 4K and use specialist display rendering software which probably makes a difference. The resulting picture is colorful and detailed with only the occasional scene where the screen door effect is obvious.

[BossTweed]

I have the Quiest 2 and love Bigscreen Beta on it now that they hyave added YouTube to it. It is great watching Movies in a simulated cinema environment.

[Superballs]

Originally Posted by Freakyguy666

Nope.
&
Yes.

HP Reverb G2 is 2160x2160 per eye

[Freakyguy666]

Originally Posted by Superballs

HP Reverb G2 is 2160x2160 per eye

You missed the point….go back and catch up….

Until VR gets to 16k per eye, the screen door effect will remain noticeable to all but those with poor vision…

[cdx47]

Speaking of screen door effect (SDE), there's a hidden Oculus setting for the number of pixels used in the output image. The value itself is set conservatively for obvious reasons. Once the setting was increased, it helped improve the two main picture quality issues with my headset. Low light banding and very bad SDE issues with some Golden Age movies like Wings of the Hawk and Inferno (1953). Shogun Women also looked like crap and Dredd and Edge of Tomorrow were borderline.

While the above mentioned Golden Age movies are now much more watchable than before and overall picture quality has improved, SDE is always there. But with OLED black levels, a significant of reduction of banding and as long as you are not hyper-sensitive to SDE, then the picture quality is now at the level of a very good projector, but with "much" bigger screens.

[DAT27]

I have both HP Reverb G2 and Oculus Quest 2 and watched quite few 3D movies and non-3D movies in both.
I prefer HP Reverb G2 + Virtual Desktop(HighMax Theater) + Kodi for watching 3D movies for better resolution. Connected to my home theater systems for sound. Unfortunately WMR limits sound output to Windows sonic for headphones.

I use Oculus Quest 2(Link Cable) + Sky box for watching non-3D movies with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X or HD sounds. Skybox allows option to change curved screen. Few 3D movies are better in the curved Screen (Gravity 3D)
I do not have Wifi-6, So Oculus Link Cable works better for me watching movies in Oculus 2 without any frames drop out issues. I noticed few frames drop out issue when I used Wifi-5.

Few recommended 3D movies watching in VR.
Avatar 3D (Amazing in large 16:9 screen)
Wonder Women 1984 - IMAX scenes are amazing.
Titanic 3D (Very Crisp and excellent in Large 16:9 screen)
Doctor Strange
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (Popouts are awesome)
Hugo 3D
Gravity 3D. (Recommended in Curved Screen).

Happy Watching....

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by DAT27

I have both HP Reverb G2 and Oculus Quest 2 and watched quite few 3D movies and non-3D movies in both.
I prefer HP Reverb G2 + Virtual Desktop(HighMax Theater) + Kodi for watching 3D movies for better resolution. Connected to my home theater systems for sound. Unfortunately WMR limits sound output to Windows sonic for headphones.

The G2 has an LED screen with much higher resolution so the screen door effect will be almost invisible. I would like to have that too, but I prefer to have the superior contrast ratio of OLED over the higher resolution of LED and put up with the SDE. Horses for courses

Originally Posted by DAT27

I use Oculus Quest 2(Link Cable) + Sky box for watching non-3D movies with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X or HD sounds. Skybox allows option to change curved screen. Few 3D movies are better in the curved Screen (Gravity 3D)
I do not have Wifi-6, So Oculus Link Cable works better for me watching movies in Oculus 2 without any frames drop out issues. I noticed few frames drop out issue when I used Wifi-5.

Wifi-5 works great with the Oculus Quest as long as you have a decent router with the later version of Wifi 5. The earlier version has half the bandwidth but even with that I don't remember any major issues. I used to use Virtual Desktop (Quest) for watching 3D movies, but the lower processing power of the headset means it can sometimes struggle with low light scenes and banding. I now mostly use Virtual Desktop (STEAM) for watching 3D movies and they look great, especially after changing the hidden settings I mention above. The Golden Age movies now look OK compared to before, but I'm sure these would look much better on the G2

I was hoping that maybe the new Cinera headset could be a future upgrade path, but that's looking more and more like a dud.

[DAT27]

Thanks for sharing the details. Where do i find the Pixels settings in the oculus?

The other reason I am using Link cable is to get the Audio in my home theater system. I am not favorite to the Oculus Quest 2 headphone audio.

Originally Posted by cdx47

The G2 has an LED screen with much higher resolution so the screen door effect will be almost invisible. I would like to have that too, but I prefer to have the superior contrast ratio of OLED over the higher resolution of LED and put up with the SDE. Horses for courses


Wifi-5 works great with the Oculus Quest as long as you have a decent router with the later version of Wifi 5. The earlier version has half the bandwidth but even with that I don't remember any major issues. I used to use Virtual Desktop (Quest) for watching 3D movies, but the lower processing power of the headset means it can sometimes struggle with low light scenes and banding. I now mostly use Virtual Desktop (STEAM) for watching 3D movies and they look great, especially after changing the hidden settings I mention above. The Golden Age movies now look OK compared to before, but I'm sure these would look much better on the G2

I was hoping that maybe the new Cinera headset could be a future upgrade path, but that's looking more and more like a dud.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by DAT27

Thanks for sharing the details. Where do i find the Pixels settings in the oculus?

There's an Oculus Debug Tool that comes with the installation folder. My computer is off and I use a shortcut so I don't remember the exact location but Google it and you should find it very easily

Originally Posted by DAT27

The other reason I am using Link cable is to get the Audio in my home theater system. I am not favorite to the Oculus Quest 2 headphone audio.

I quite like the Oculus 1 headphone audio but when I'm watching movies I of course use my home theatre, but I still use wifi and I've being doing this for over a year now. Since I don't have an external battery pack, I do have the power cable connected to my Quest while watching longer movies.

[DAT27]

Thanks for the info. I will check the installation folder.

Originally Posted by cdx47

There's an Oculus Debug Tool that comes with the installation folder. My computer is off and I use a shortcut so I don't remember the exact location but Google it and you should find it very easily


I quite like the Oculus 1 headphone audio but when I'm watching movies I of course use my home theatre, but I still use wifi and I've being doing this for over a year now. Since I don't have an external battery pack, I do have the power cable connected to my Quest while watching longer movies.

[2ndvizio]

Quest 2 I ordered just arrived, wanted to get it before the big price increase. Probably will use it for VR first and perhaps for 3d too if it looks good enough. All my movies are mkv MVC bluray rips that I play using my Plex server. Does it need to be converted to SBS or is there a way to play these with Quest 2 without converting? I don't mind not using Plex and doing 3d from the PC directly but I really do not have the disk space to convert them all to SBS. Thanks.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by 2ndvizio

Quest 2 I ordered just arrived, wanted to get it before the big price increase. Probably will use it for VR first and perhaps for 3d too if it looks good enough. All my movies are mkv MVC bluray rips that I play using my Plex server. Does it need to be converted to SBS or is there a way to play these with Quest 2 without converting? I don't mind not using Plex and doing 3d from the PC directly but I really do not have the disk space to convert them all to SBS. Thanks.

As long as they are full 3D blu-ray MVC rips then yes it is possible to play them without conversion. The easiest way is to use MPC-BE which has real time SBS/OU 3D conversion built in. Sadly that feature it is broken on the latest versions of the player but if you stick to 1.5.8 it's fine. I already use MadVR so I just switched the 3D conversion functionality on. On the Quest Virtual Desktop can convert SBS/OU movie in real time to 3D in your visor. I think Skybox PC can do it and I also remember Bigscreen being capable but it's clunky and the picture quality isn't quite as good.

[RefractiveIndex]

My current 3D VR theatre setup.

MPC-HC with LAV filters->MADVR(upscaled to 4k)->virtual desktop Steam edition->HighMax Cinema dark version(based on the old IMAX theatre in Sydney)->Oculus Quest 2 VR headset wired link 500mb/s.

I passthrough the audio to the Sony MDR-HW700 cinema headphones.

Very happy now with my own personal IMAX theatre . Oculus Quest 2 has very little noticeable SDE in practice. A lot of what people describe as the SDE is actually the loss of detail in the image when blowing up a 1080p source onto a massive virtual screen. Upscaling to 4k solves this issue if your PC has the horsepower to do it.