Okay, so hear me out…
I’ve always been a huge fan of the Valve Index. The controllers? Top-notch. The tracking? Solid. But the audio, while good, never quite hit that perfect sweet spot for me. It was decent, but not amazing.
Then came the Bigscreen Beyond. This headset is something else – incredibly light and designed for a super custom fit. The problem? It doesn’t have built-in audio. So, naturally, the first thing I thought was: “How can I make my Index audio work with this new beast?”
This is where “Project Beyondex” was born. It’s not some fancy, pre-packaged solution. It’s a pure DIY, problem-solving kind of project that I think a lot of you tech-heads out there will appreciate.
The Challenge:
The Bigscreen Beyond is all about minimal size and weight. The Valve Index, on the other hand, has those excellent off-ear speakers that attach to the head strap. The goal was to marry these two, without adding a ton of bulk or making it look like a Frankenstein’s monster of VR tech.
The Build:
I started by looking at how the Index speakers attach. They use a pretty standard clip system. The Bigscreen Beyond has mounting points, but they aren’t designed for audio. This is where 3D printing came in clutch.
I spent a good chunk of time designing custom brackets. The idea was to create something that could slot securely into the Bigscreen Beyond’s frame, providing a stable base for the Index speakers. I wanted them to be positioned just right – close enough for clear audio, but not so close that they’d be uncomfortable or block the view.
After a few iterations (and a few failed prints, let’s be real), I landed on a design that worked. These brackets clip onto the Bigscreen Beyond and then the Index speakers clip onto the brackets. It’s surprisingly sturdy.
The Result:
And the verdict? It actually works! I’m getting that immersive, high-quality audio from the Valve Index speakers, now integrated seamlessly with the incredibly comfortable Bigscreen Beyond. The weight distribution is still excellent, and the audio quality is exactly what I was hoping for.
It’s not a perfect, out-of-the-box solution, and it definitely requires some tinkering if you want to try it yourself. But that’s the beauty of these kinds of projects, right? Figuring out the puzzle and making technology do what you want it to do.
This is the kind of innovation that gets me excited about VR. It’s about pushing boundaries and finding creative ways to improve the experience. Project Beyondex is a small step, but for me, it’s a huge leap in VR audio immersion.
What do you guys think? Have you tried any cool DIY mods for your VR setups? Let me know in the comments!