If you are searching for an ultralight Micro-OLED VR headset for your sim rig, two names naturally top the list: the Pimax Dream Air SE Lighthouse Edition and the Big Screen Beyond 2 (BSB2).
I bought the Big Screen Beyond 2e almost two years ago. I waited months and months for it to arrive, but when it finally landed on my sim rig, I was significantly underwhelmed. When I received the Dream Air SE, the contrast between the two headsets was immediate. In almost every single category, the Dream Air SE comes out on top as the superior overall headset.
The Out-of-the-Box Experience
The difference in experience starts the second you open the box.
When my Big Screen Beyond 2e arrived, it felt incomplete. It shipped with no built-in audio out of the box, forcing you to either wear hot, bulky headphones over your head or spend extra cash on an audio strap add-on. Worse, the custom facial interface suffered from noticeable light bleed around my nose and cheekbones, leaking room light into the displays and spoiling the deep black levels.
The Dream Air SE, however, impressed me before I even plugged it in. The build felt premium, the facial cushion provided a snug, light-tight seal right away, and audio was integrated directly into the headstrap. When I plugged it in, the software updated seamlessly, and the eye tracking calibrated in under 30 seconds.
The Secret Lens Swap
Here is something really cool that many sim racers do not realize: Pimax and Big Screen use the exact same lens shape.
I had custom prescription lenses already fitted inside my Big Screen Beyond 2. When I received a set of empty Pimax lens frames, I walked over to the BSB2, popped the lenses out, and placed them into the Dream Air SE frames.
They snapped right in with a 100% perfect fit. Being able to take your existing lenses and transfer them straight into the Dream Air SE saves time, hassle, and money.
The Pimax Dream Air SE Lighthouse Edition in hand—sleek black visor, chrome chevron, and lightweight chassis.
| Category | Pimax Dream Air SE | Big Screen Beyond 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Solution | Built-in Strap Audio (Included) | None in Box (Paid Addon or Headphones) |
| Eye Tracking Setup | Calibrated in Under 30 Seconds | Manual / Finicky Calibration |
| Face Cushion & Light Seal | Comfortable, Light-Tight Foam | Rigid Custom Interface (Light Bleed) |
| Night Glare & Halos | Greatly Reduced White Halo | Distracting Internal White Rings |
| Ghosting Solution | Eliminated at 80% (Rich Colors) | Significant Trails at High Brightness |
Display Ghosting: The 80% Brightness Solution
Both of these headsets pack ultra-sharp Micro-OLED displays capable of deep contrast. But both headsets also share the same quirk: cranking brightness to 100% causes motion ghosting.
When brightness is pushed to the limit, fast-moving track markers leave smudgy trails behind them as you look into turns. But on the Dream Air SE, the fix is easy: drop your brightness to 80%.
At 80% brightness, ghosting completely disappears. Even better, the color profile keeps that signature punchy Pimax feel. Because the color balance stays rich, you barely notice the drop in brightness, but the motion clarity becomes crystal-sharp.
Lens Glare and White Light Halos
Pancake lenses on micro-displays often create a faint white halo effect in dark scenes with high-contrast lights, such as driving at night with headlights cutting across a dark cockpit.
On the Big Screen Beyond 2, that white-light halo effect is strong and distracting. On the Dream Air SE, however, that halo effect is much less noticeable. It is dialed back enough that it never pulls your attention away from your line through the corner.
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On-Track Comfort and Sim Racing Performance
Out on the track, the Dream Air SE simply melts away. Because the face cushion fits so securely and blocks out all stray light, you sink straight into the sim.
I ran the headset on the 72Hz profile, and the driving experience was remarkably smooth and fluid. I never felt held back while battling for position. Add in the built-in headstrap audio—which is like-for-like with the standard Dream Air—and you have a complete, turnkey racing package without needing extra accessories.
Final Verdict
The Big Screen Beyond 2 was an ambitious headset, but missing built-in audio, light bleed around the face gasket, and distracting lens glare hold it back. The Pimax Dream Air SE fixes those pain points, delivering superior overall performance, faster setup, and much higher value on the sim rig.
- Built-in Audio Ready: Quality integrated off-ear audio without needing extra straps or headphones.
- No Light Bleed: Plush face gasket creates a light-tight seal right out of the box.
- Direct Lens Swap: Pop BSB2 lenses out and drop them straight into Pimax frames with a 100% exact fit.
- Ghost-Free at 80%: Easily eliminates motion blur while preserving rich Pimax colors and deep blacks.
- Tamed Lens Halos: Much less noticeable white glare rings in dark night racing conditions.
- Instant 30-Second Setup: Eye tracking calibrated and racing in less than half a minute.