Currently, the HTC Vive doesn’t come with integrated audio headphones unlike the Rift but an upgrade is coming.
When using the Vive at the moment it comes with earplug headphones which plug into a jack at the back of the headset. It actually works quite well. HTC has now decided that integrated headphones are a good idea and the Vive deluxe audio strap is coming.
For an extra $99.99 (€119.99, £99.99, ¥799.00) users can have the headphones integrated with the headset. It’s a little more than just headphones though, it’s a completely new design on the strap which should make using the Vive more comfortable
The headset can be adjusted at the back with a turn of a dial to suit different head sizes and it is said to have improved balance on the head. The Vive is quite uncomfortable to use for long periods this might be a solid investment for anyone planning longer sessions.
What is disappointing about the design is they have not balanced the headset on the forehead which means the mask will still have to sit very close to the face. There are DIY versions of different configurations using welding masks that work quite well, but for the cost of creating one of those, this could be just as good. It’s hard to tell how comfortable this will be from the image but it might be worth a look.
The new strap will release on 6 June.
