In its new Steam Frame VR headset, Valve has placed dual audio drivers on each side of the included head strap. It keeps the audio close to your ears when you wear it, and while trying out the device at Valve’s headquarters recently, I thought the sound was just fine. But the option of those dual drivers also helps reduce audio vibration, which helps the headset with tracking when playing games in VR, explains Valve hardware engineer Jeremy Sellen. The Verge,
The Frame, like many other VR headsets, uses outward-facing cameras built into the body of the headset for tracking. However, according to Saleen, audio with good bass “induces vibrations in the headset”, which can affect that tracking. But on the head strap included with the frame, the dual drivers per side are “mounted opposite each other”, which creates “vibration cancellation built into the design”. Celan says this allows for “better tracking even with good audio”.
Very good! The headset is also modular, so theoretically, you might be able to use other head straps with other audio solutions later. This is a really interesting headset – I recently got to try it out for myself.