When planning an event, the visual effects of the stage often determine the atmosphere and audience experience. When choosing equipment, many organizers will hesitate whether to rent LED video walls or use traditional projectors. It seems that both methods can enlarge the picture, but in fact the difference is quite large, and there are different aspects to budget, effect, and applicable scenarios. Let’s talk about the comparison between the two.
1. Image quality and brightness
The biggest shortcoming of projection is brightness. As long as the venue has a little ambient light, such as outdoor daytime or a stage with complex lighting, the projected image will easily be diluted and look gray. The advantage of LED video wall is that it is self-luminous and has a brightness that can easily reach 1000cd/㎡ or even higher, and can remain clear and bright even in a strong light environment. The audience can see clearly even when they sit in the back row.
2. Installation and flexibility
Projection generally requires a projector and a screen, and the projection distance must be ensured, without any obstructions. Once the site conditions are limited, such as the ceiling is too low and the space is limited, installation will be very troublesome. LED video walls are modularly spliced, and even if the stage space is limited, they can be freely combined to create a large screen. It is okay to want curved screens and special shapes to splice, and the visual effect is more impactful.
3. Clarity and picture effect
Traditional projection is limited by resolution and projection screen size, and the picture details are limited. The LED video wall’s small pitch technology is now very mature, and the display effect of specifications such as P2.6 and P3 is comparable to that of TVs. Especially at large-scale events, the large LED screen can present logos, advertisements, and videos more fully, improving the overall.
4. Price and budget
Speaking of money, many people’s first reaction is that projection is cheaper. Indeed, a single projector rental may only cost a few hundred dollars, and add a little more screen. But if you need to cover a large area, you often need to use multiple projection fusion, which is very difficult and labor costs increase. LED video wall rentals are calculated based on area, usually between US$40-120 per square meter, depending on resolution and configuration. At first glance, the unit price is expensive, but considering the overall effect and the saved debugging time, it is often more cost-effective.
5. Applicable scenarios
If it is just a small conference room or classroom explanation, the lighting is controllable and the number of audiences is limited, then projection is enough and it is cost-effective. But if it is a large-scale concert, exhibition, sports event, or even wedding, which requires shocking effects, LED video wall is almost the only suitable choice. Especially when there is a live broadcast or shooting requirement, the display effect of the LED screen is more stable in the lens, and there will be no common uneven brightness or flashing of the picture.
6. Maintenance and reliability
The projector bulb has limited lifespan, and it is prone to light drop or color deviation in long-term use. The lifespan of LED video walls is generally more than 50,000 hours, and the modular design is also convenient for maintenance. If a single module is broken, it can be replaced quickly without affecting the entire picture. This is especially important at the event site, because temporary problems may end the event with an awkward end.
To sum up, if you want to pursue economical benefits, the scale of the event is not large, and the light on the site is easy to control, then the projection can still meet the needs. But if you want to make the scene more shocking and the picture clearer, and you don’t have to worry about investing more, the LED video wall is definitely more suitable for your activities. Simply put, projection is useful, but LED is amazing.
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