Sitting in a glass case in front of me was the CV1, the newest version of the Oculus Rift. The design was sleek, much smaller and more aesthetically pleasing than the DK1 or 2, which I didn’t think possible. 

When I held the CV1, I was amazed at how much lighter it was than the DK2. If fit onto my head easily. The new straps were held in a fixed position, so there was much less tugging and stretching to fit it over my head.

Once on my head, I noticed how stable it seems. The straps on the sides and top of my head were easily tightened. It was light and I didn’t feel like it was constantly sliding down my face the way the DK2 did. The overall feel of the CV1 was more like a well fitted hat than a clunky head mounted display.

oculus-rift-vr-headset-1200x698
(image: Oculus VR)

I was skeptical about the built in headphones. They fold up along the side of the HMD and swing down when you want to use them. I assumed that they would be uncomfortable and not work that well. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The headphones rested on the sides of my ears and were tight enough that I could hear the demo sounds well, but not so tight that they would squeeze my ears and cause discomfort.

I had a much easier time turning my head in all directions, especially when looking straight up and straight down. With the DK2, I felt that when I looked up, the HMD would fall backwards off of my head. Similarly, the HMD felt as though it would slip off forwards when I look down. However, I did not have this feeling with the CV1.

Additionally, there was virtually no outside light that was able to enter the headset. In the DK2, there was often visible light coming through the hole for the wearer’s nose. No such light was present in the CV1.

I tried the demo Showdown. I had previously tried this demo on the DK2 a week prior to trying it on the CV1. The experience was better on the CV1. The screen door effect was virtually nonexistent and I felt way more immersed in the demo when I tried it in the CV1 than in the DK2.

Overall, the CV1 is a big step up from the DK2. It’s lightweight feel almost make you forget that you are wearing HMD. It provides for a more comfortable and immersive experience.