The PC monitor for the living room?
22.2.2019
Translation: machine translated
Bigger monitors are better. Or are they not? Wouldn't you be better off using a TV once you reach a certain size? HP and co. don't think so and are pushing BFGDs - Big Format Gaming Displays - in 2019. HP is leading the way with the Omen X Emperium 65.
There it is, the HP Omen X Emperium 65, and I thought 49 inches was big. 65 inches is huge. The HP Omen X Emperium 65 is definitely not designed for the desk. You're sitting far too close. HP does say: "Immersion doesn't get much more intense and better than with this display." Let's see whether the HP monitor actually draws me in or rather repels me.
- 65-inch MVA display with 3840 × 2160 and a refresh rate of 144 Hz
- Contrast ratio: 4000:1
- Response time (grey to grey): 14 ms (can be overridden by up to 4 ms)
- Brightness: 750 cd/m²
- nVidia G-Sync
- Vesa DisplayHDR 1000
Big, bigger, Omen X Emperium
I only really realise the dimensions when I unpack it. Two people should actually be helping. But unfortunately I'm alone in our studio, otherwise there's nowhere else to put it. I manage to place the panel on the polystyrene (actually polystyrene 🤓) and screw on the solid feet. A soundbar would actually go between these if you opt for the more expensive version. It costs 500 francs more. However, I received the variants without the soundbar from HP for testing. However, the Omen doesn't have integrated speakers, which means you're forced to take care of the sound yourself.
Although the Emperium doesn't have a TV tuner, you can access various apps thanks to the integrated Nvidia Shield and therefore also watch films and series without a PC. HP also provides you with the matching remote control.
How am I supposed to lift this 32.4-kilogramme device with a screen diagonal of 164 centimetres onto the desk? Now I definitely need help. My colleague Raphael Knecht and I place the Omen X Emperium on the desk on which our colleagues Philipp Rüegg and Simon Balissat are streaming their "digitec plays". Incidentally, it's not just the monitor that's big, but also the price. At 4499 francs (as of 22/02/2019), the Emperium is anything but cheap.
When I sit down in front of it, I realise that it's no good as a PC monitor. 80 centimetres is far too little for the size of the Omen X Emperium. I get "Äckegstabi" - "Halschehri" for those who don't speak Bernese German. In the studio, at least I have the option of placing the monitor on another table so that my sitting distance increases to about two metres. I can live with that and connect it to our gaming PC with a Displayport cable.
In terms of connectivity, the Omen X Emperium offers the following ports:
2 × USB 3.0 downstream port
1 × S/PDIF
3 × HDMI 2.0 HDMI Type A Version 2.0
1 × HDMI ARC
1 × DisplayPort Version 1.4
1 × RJ45/LAN port
Not even that ugly for a gamer display
I'm pleasantly surprised by the design. At least from the front. Here, the Omen looks like a normal TV. The frame is only 4 millimetres wide at the top and sides and around 13 millimetres wide at the bottom. On the other hand, the device is relatively deep at almost 10 centimetres. It is somewhat reminiscent of the first LCD televisions. The feet are made of high-quality metal and are not too obtrusive despite their playful shape. I like the monitor, and even as an avowed opponent of gamer design, I would put it in my living room.
From behind, the gamer origin becomes clearer. The red Omen logo is emblazoned in the centre, while various stripes are intended to make the device sleeker. Of course, the freely configurable, obligatory RGB bar is also a must. At least the gamer kitsch is hidden on the back and is otherwise relatively discreet.
Game test: "Far Cry 5"
I switch on the Emperium and immediately hear a quiet hiss. An integrated cooling system is probably at work here. But it's so quiet that it doesn't bother me. At this point, a few words about the heat development: The Omen X Emperium gets warm, but no warmer than other monitors. And at 65 inches, you're sitting a little further away, so you won't feel it anyway.
Why "Far Cry 5" again? It's simple: it's the only title in my games library with HDR support. And since the Omen supports HDR, I'm not going to miss out on marvelling at the landscapes of Montana in all their glory. The picture is indeed very rich in contrast. The difference between HDR and without HDR is enormous.
I didn't notice any ghosting or screen tearing during my tests. Nvidia G-Sync does a great job here. Streaks are barely noticeable even at 14 ms response time. Since the Omen X Emperium can be overdriven, I set it to the maximum value of 4 ms. I couldn't detect any streaks here. It's possible that pro gamers will still notice differences, but I was more than satisfied with the result.
And yes, I have to agree with HP to some extent: With my two metres sitting distance, I actually feel a bit more drawn into the game. But that may also be due to the fantastic picture.
Clear, but not extensive menu
You control the OSD using a joystick at the back right. This also functions as a confirmation button. Next to it is only the power button. The OSD is limited to the essentials. You can select different picture modes, override the screen or change the brightness. The joystick control works very well. I have had worse experiences with other displays.
Beautiful MVA display
The MVA display has 384 full-array backlight zones. Thanks to these, the monitor delivers a very good black level that is comparable to QLED televisions. MVA displays are not exactly known for their gaming suitability. This is due to the fact that earlier displays with this technology had relatively long response times and were therefore prone to streaking. However, this has now changed, as my "Far Cry 5" test has shown. Thanks to the overdrive, the standard response time of 14 ms g-2-g can be reduced to as little as 4 ms. That should also be enough for competitive players.
In contrast to TN and IPS panels, MVA displays are more viewing angle stable and offer better contrast values. I measured a static contrast of 3630:1 with the i1 Display Pro colourimeter from X-Rite. This is slightly below the 4000:1 that HP itself specifies. The dynamic contrast is as high as 10,888:1 and the maximum brightness is 675 nits. I measured this value in the centre of the screen. I registered the lowest value of 635 nits in the centre left. The brightness therefore drops slightly towards the outside. However, I didn't notice this difference in the high brightness values when gaming or otherwise using the monitor. Even with this value, the Emperium is below the 750 nits that HP itself specifies.
Finally, I measured the colour space coverage. Here, the Omen 65 Emperium delivers average values for a PC monitor with 98.1 per cent sRGB, 69 per cent Adobe RGB and 71.4 per cent DCI P3. According to the manufacturer, however, the display should achieve 95 per cent DCI P3.
Game test: "CS: GO"
Now I'm going to try a slightly older title in which our gaming box in the studio gets more FPS than in "Far Cry 5". I can also benefit from the monitor's 144 Hz. In "CS:GO", the FPS counter constantly shows over 200. Here too: No traces of ghosting, screen tearing or streaks. I don't know whether I play better with 144 Hz or not. But since I'm a really bad shooter gamer, I don't think it makes any difference in my case. But the picture definitely looks better than I'm used to. The 144 Hz certainly helps here.
Who is this thing for?
There's nothing to criticise about the quality of the HP Omen X Emperium. The picture looks fantastic and is also suitable for fast-paced shooters thanks to its overdrive capability. The only point of criticism is the lower measured values such as brightness or colour space coverage compared to those specified by HP.
Don't put the Emperium on your desk. You'll be sitting far too close to the big thing and "Äckegstabi" is programmed. So you either need a separate game room where you can set up the Emperium further away from you or turn it on against the wall. Or you can place or hang it in your living room.
But do you really need an Omen X Emperium in the living room if you're gaming from the couch? Wouldn't a conventional TV be enough? It's even cheaper. Okay, at least you can connect the Omen to DisplayPort, which is what makes the 144 Hz possible, and no TV can match the Emperium's response time. But HP's claim that "immersion doesn't get much more intense and better than with this display" is invalid with a sitting distance of several metres in the living room. I don't feel any more immersed in the action on my similarly sized TV than I do in front of my much smaller PC monitor.
But if you like to game on the couch with a lapboard, the Omen X Emperium is certainly a great way to indulge your passion in the best quality. I can also well imagine that people with racing platforms or farming simulator fans will be happy with the Emperium. All other gamers are better served with a smaller monitor for the console or an ultrawide display. The Emperium is definitely not a sensible purchase - even if it is of great quality.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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