Reverb G2 visuals going black after thity minutes gameplay

[Meadowman1]

Hi

I’ve had my Reverb G2 a couple of years ago. There were some intermittent problems solved by a replacement cable. Overall, I have found it has given a definitely sharper visual than some other headsets and have been very happy with it.

However, a new problem has started during the past few months, that of the optics going black, returning several times then shutting off completely after some time playing. Initially it was just after an hour and a quarters playing, but now it happens after half an hour or so rather messing up a game. Looking at the forum has shown others have had the problem.

It first started in the VR conversion of the Half Life 2 Episode 2 right at the end when things get very busy. I tried reducing the volume as suggested by some forum contributors, and it seemed to work for a while, although there may have been some wishful thinking in this. Being in my late seventies and not hearing too well, this was something of a problem, in itself.

What I want to know, is there a solution to this problem? Is it something I can deal with myself, or is this a hardware failure, overheating or similar. The headset does get quite warm, but it does not seem to get any hotter than when I first used it. There does seem to be a suggestion that there is a specific cure for this (apart from the audio level) but no one seems to know what it is.

The Reverb G2 is now out of manufacturer’s warranty and I could not get a response when trying to make contact with HP support but I purchased an extended warranty from the supplier that is still valid. I need to know if there is a definite hardware fault before claiming this, or is there something I can do with software or drivers?

I run a home build PC: Motherboard, MSI X-570 Pro, CPU, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, Graphics card, MSI AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, 128 Gb Crucial 3200 RAM, Drives SSD all round.

Any help would be appreciated before I contact the supplier as I do not want to have seemed to miss something obvious. Hopefully a HP tech might see this.

All the best to you all.

[Meadowman1]

Hi

This is a reply to and continuation of my own my own help request and perhaps will be of assistance with the same problems.

First I unchecked all the 'Audio for Mixed Reality' boxes in the 'Mixed Reality' section of Windows 11 settings.

I then utilised my monitor headphones (Sony MDR-7506) through the onboard Realtek audio system on my PC. The ear speakers on the Reverb G2 fold up easily and I found no problem using the Sony headphones, the sound being as good as the revrbs and with more bass. This considerably alleviated the problems of the visuals blacking out although did not completely cure them. I suspect that the main cause is the Reverb headset overheating, and keeping a fan on definately seems to help. It is fair to say that our ambient temperature has been around 24 - 25C,. I note clip on cooling fans are available for a number of headsets are now available aftermarket, and wonder if anyone else has experience of them. I did try an ice pack but getting it too stay on without blocking the camera apertures too much of a hassle.

It would be interesting to hear from an HP technician regarding these matters.

Regards

IKG

[CraigUK69]

I (and many others) have suffered the exact issue. It is all too common. It is a hardware failure of the headset and will get progressively worse.  Outside of warranty, HP are not interested, despite it seeming to be a fundamental design problem.
The audio overload issue was supposed to have been fixed by an update a while back but it sounds like you may have proved it wasn't in all cases.
Best wishes for whatever the future holds for your headset.

[Meadowman1]

Thanks for your response. I have more than a strong suspicion that we see accountants overuling engineers. I also supect that a few pounds / dollars more spent on constructing the units would have have prevented all of this and long run given HP a successful and long running product. When it works, the Reverb gives a much better mage than most of the headsets I have seen. My past experience with Hewlett Packard has been good with two printers and two laptops bought in the past.

I don't think I will get much further with the Reverb. It runs intermittantly and perhaps when the seasonable temperatures drop things will last a lot longer. I will consider the new Meta 3 if it works with Steam, although having got used to the detail and rich graphics Half Life Alyx, MSFS and X Plane 11and so on, I find the Meta specific games rather disapointing. Although I have not tried one,the specs on the Vive Pro 2 look excellent and as I understand there is a new model coming, prices have dropped considerably, almost to my notional limit, and I would consider buying  one  if a no or low interest credit scheme could be arranged. I note several people have added ventilation louvres and cooling fans to the Reverb with some success and if I have a new headset this is something I will try.

It is reassuring to know the problem is not only me being awkward, but is shared. 

Kind Regards to All

[CraigUK69]

There is little choice to replace the Reverb without going to 'silly' money is there? Until the mass-market appeal brings the cost of all headsets down, we are a little bit stuck. And there is no guarantee that will ever happen although we have to remain hopeful.
If yours cuts out after a certain time, I think it is worth adding a vent and a fan. It is very easy and may help. There is always the possibility that once the damage has been caused, you are just prolonging the inevitable. or it may just be random and everyone seems to assume it is heat related. Nobody has proved it scientifically yet.
I am fairly convinced though.
I've added a pic. I have cut a slot directly above where the connector slides through a guide tunnel and emerges perfectly in line with the multi-connector. As it emerges, there is a couple of cm's where it is exposed. This is where it gets the hottest. And it is just the cable that heats up, there is no other 'workings' in the vicinity.
I fitted a 5v 35x35mm fan above it and powered it from USB, running the cable loosely attached to the original cable.

I'm just doing trials but blowing air into the housing seems to keep the connector at least 20 degrees cooler and blows air at your face from around the lenses at the same time.
The difference is, my headset is working. I am just trying to do everything I can to prevent this 2nd one failing. Who knows if this will help , only time will tell.

 

[Meadowman1]

Much appreciated. I will wait for the weather to cool (ambient temperature 29C, and near autumn in the UK!), see if things will last longer before when it does cool a bit. Too warm to wear a headset at the moment anyway.

I like your mod, it seems to be less hassle than some others I have seen and will try.

All the Best to You

[CraigUK69]

Yes, I'm in the UK too, I can't even bear going in the room the PC is in it is so warm , let alone putting the headset on 🙂

If you do have a go at the mod... 8 obvious screws on the back by the lenses... pop the front plate off quite easily with a spudger... and 4 more not so obvious screws on the front then you can slide the bit out you need. There is one ribbon cable that has to be removed for the proximity sensor, you just lift up the flap on the zero insertion force connector.
I used tin snips/side cutters to cut out the slot, just be very mindful that the socket for the cable is right under there so you don't want any debris falling in... I used a piece of card to mask it off while I worked on it.

Dare I say, there is nothing either side of the cable under the case (as may be visible from my pic), so you could just use a dremmel to cut down either side without even needing to take out any screws. There is no real risk. Just leave the cable plugged in to stop debris going in the socket. I would do that If I had to do it again.

I hope it all works out OK for you. Best wishes.