Product test

HP Omen Mindframe: Not cool enough for my ears

16.10.2018

Translation: machine translated

With active cooling, damp gamer ears should be a thing of the past. Read in the test whether HP's Omen Mindframe gives me cold or hot ears.

It's hot in ancient Greece. I more or less skilfully steer Kassandra from "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" over rooftops and ships. All that jumping around warms me up too. Except for my ears, which are cold.

The active cooling of the Omen Mindframe headset takes care of my cold ears. HP calls the technology Frostcap. Before I get into the theory, here's an overview of the most important specs:

Virtual 7.1 surround sound for positional audio and 3D sound perception
Thermoelectrically cooled "FrostCap" ear cups and active heat dissipation
Cushioned and adjustable headband
Adjustable and retractable microphone
Volume control on the right ear cup
Configurable RGB lighting

Gaming headset

HP OMEN Mindframe

Cable

A little physics to get you started

The principle of thermoelectric cooling is not new. It refers to the influencing and conversion of electricity and temperature into each other. HP is the first to apply the principle in a headset. In the case of the Omen Mindframe, HP utilises the Peltier effect. Heat is either absorbed or released between two dissimilar conductors when a current flows. When a DC voltage is applied, the positive and negative charge carriers on one substrate surface absorb heat, transfer it to the substrate on the opposite side and release it there. The surface on which energy is absorbed cools down and the opposite surface on which the energy is released heats up.

In the Omen Mindframe headset, an aluminium plate is cooled just above the drivers, i.e. in the ear cup. Your ears come into contact with the plate. Other headsets with built-in cooling rely on cool pads in the cushions. In this case, the cooling only works for a few hours. In contrast, the cooling effect of the HP Omen Mindframe lasts until you take the headset off. On the other hand, the pads get some of the waste heat from the Peltier effect, which reduces the cooling effect.

Design

The headset is designed in the HP Omen gamer line. It is completely black except for the connecting cable of the ear cups. The curved shape of the headband is complemented by two diamonds with rounded edges. Despite this break in shape, the design looks coherent and even as a self-confessed opponent of game design stuff, it doesn't make me run away screaming. There is a self-adjusting retaining strap underneath the headband. This makes the huge headset look a little smaller.

Only the microphone seems out of place in terms of design. Its angular appearance breaks with the otherwise round presentation. It can be folded up or down. The top of the microphone lights up when it is folded up, i.e. inactive. When it is folded down, the light goes out.

A propos light: HP's gamer headset naturally also has configurable RGB lighting. These are located in the diamonds and adopt their shape.

Ergonomics/equipment

The Omen Mindframe is huge. I have a small head. So not only do I look daft when I'm wearing the headset, but it doesn't really sit well on me. If I move my little head quickly from left to right, the thing sometimes hits the desk or floor. However, the headset stays in place for colleagues with a somewhat larger head - and they don't look quite as dodgy as I do. The self-adjusting strap is a great thing in itself. This allows you to adjust the size continuously if your head is big enough.

If you're going to go crazy, then do it right.

You connect the headset via USB Type-A. This is due to the active cooling, which is supplied via the USB port. In addition to the USB connection, people who also use their headset as headphones in everyday life - there are supposed to be some - should know that the microphone cannot be removed.

When you fold down the microphone, an acoustic signal informs you when it is ready for use. This signal interrupts any sound playback for about one second.

On the hardware side, you can only adjust the volume. This is done via a wheel located behind the right ear cup. On the software side, in the Omen Command Centre, you can control the RGB lighting continuously and the cooling capacity in three stages. Settings for the microphone and sound output are missing.

Sound quality

Of course, gamer headsets are not for audiophiles. Nevertheless, they should deliver a well-rounded sound experience. In my experience, the HP Omen Mindframe headset covers a frequency range of 35 to 15,000 Hz. The headset does not output high low frequencies cleanly. The mids are somewhat flat and highs cannot be recognised across the entire audible frequency range.

I wore the headset for long periods while working and listening to music. Despite the technical sound shortcomings, the headset delivers decent quality in office use. It does not have active noise cancelling, but still does a good job of blocking out external noise. Even without music, I had to take the headset off to take part in the deeply philosophical conversations on the editorial team.

The obligatory RGB lighting is also on board.

But what about gaming? After all, that's what the headset is made for. At first glance, the Omen Mindframe produces a balanced surround sound image. Personally, however, I only perceive 5.1 channels instead of 7.1. I can't differentiate between the surround and surround back speakers. I wonder if my colleagues feel the same? I call in home entertainment specialist Luca Fontana. He is amazed at the quality. He, too, may perceive a balanced surround sound image. However, he is unable to judge whether 7.1 or 5.1 channels are actually being generated virtually.

In order to be able to make a better statement about the surround sound, I decided to compare the Omen Mindframe with my Sennheiser HD 25 stereo headphones. To ensure that both sets of headphones are on a level playing field, I watch the virtual haircut surround sound test on YouTube. I also make sure that Windows Sonic is actually activated on both devices. Otherwise, virtual surround sound won't work. I can't tell the difference when comparing. My Sennheiser also produces a balanced surround sound image, but I can't judge whether 7.1 or 5.1 channels are active here either.

Since HP doesn't offer its own software for settings and testing options for virtual surround sound, I try the software from Razer. In Razer Surround, I can test the headset with the surround sound activated and deactivated. Apart from a higher volume and more reverb, I can't tell the difference between activated and deactivated surround sound.

The microphone does its job. My conversation partners understand me well even in louder surroundings.

Conclusion

I was initially impressed by HP's idea of active cooling. I hate over-ear headphones because they always get way too hot - and after just a few seconds. However, I don't think the implementation is so good. I do indeed get cold ears, but that doesn't help me if the pads are exposed to the waste heat from the cooling system. I get the most heat under the pads and because my skin can't breathe, this is where I sweat the most. And I sweat even more because of the waste heat. The active cooling is only useful for me if the padding is also cooled. The product doesn't look fully developed as it is.

In terms of ergonomics, I have a lot of problems with my delicate head. Firstly, the headset is too big for me and therefore doesn't hold properly. Secondly, it's annoying that playback is interrupted when the microphone is flipped up and down. Thirdly, I miss a few setting options in the Command Centre. An equaliser, options for virtual surround sound and microphone settings would be desirable. One positive aspect, however, is that the headset still sits comfortably even after hours despite its oversized size.

The music playback and virtual surround sound when gaming are average. I can perceive a surround sound, but in my opinion not on seven channels. Somehow I have the feeling that I'm listening to a good stereo reproduction. But that's my subjective hearing sensation.

I can't recommend buying the Omen Mindframe. I think just under 200 francs is definitely too much for an average headset - apart from the active cooling. If you can do without the active cooling, you can find better and cheaper headsets - and even without cables. <p

10 people like this article