The Only LED Video Wall Guide You Need for Your Business

If you’ve been thinking about taking your business’s visual presentation to the next level, you’ve probably heard of video wall LEDs. But what makes them stand out, and how can they help your business succeed? You’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide will demystify video wall LED technology, giving you the insights you need to make informed decisions. We’ll cover everything from the technical aspects to practical applications, ensuring you have all the knowledge to make your next significant visual upgrade a success. Get ready to see how video walls can redefine your business’s space, captivate your audience, and leave a lasting impression.

Understanding Video Walls with LED Technology

LED vs LCD

An LED video wall is an extensive display system consisting of multiple LED panels seamlessly tiled together to form one continuous, expansive screen. Because LED displays can have a much smaller bezel, they are the ideal solution for video wall usage.

LCD Video Wall	LED Video Wall

So the bevel is one of the obviously visible differences, but is that it? Not quite. The primary technological difference between an LCD and an LED display is the technology used to backlight the display. That is, assume both display types have a liquid crystal layer, but they need a light to shine from behind, or you will have dark, dismal images all the time. So, the LED uses diodes, and the LCD uses fluorescent lights. In particular, they use cold cathode fluorescent lamps. ⁽¹⁾

Unless you’ve been living in a dark cave, you know that LED bulbs last longer than the typical fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. That’s one of the benefits of using LED technology – it tends to last longer. In fact, LCD’s industry-standard life expectancy is 50,000 hours (or five years), while the LED industry standard is 100,000 hours (10 years). ⁽²⁾

Furthermore, the picture tends to be sharper, producing a higher-quality image on LED displays. LCDs, however, are generally cheaper to buy than their LED counterparts.

The Early Days of Video Walls

Mitsubishi Electric and Sony developed the first video walls. You may recognize the name JumboTron, which was coined by Sony in 1985. ⁽³⁾

In the early days of JumboTron, a version of Diamond Vision technology was used. Diamond Vision Systems, a division of Mitsubishi Electric, uses chip-type LED technology for their giant screens showcased at many stadiums across North America. ⁽⁴⁾

LED video wall technology has advanced significantly over the past nearly four decades. Today, display technology is quite advanced compared to the video wall technology of forty years ago. Today’s LED displays are smarter, and so are the video wall media players that accompany them. Check out some of the benefits below.

Benefits Of Using Led Over Traditional Display Methods:

• Superior image quality and brightness.
• Energy efficiency and longer lifespan.
• Flexibility in size and configurations.

Key Features to Consider in LED-Backlit Video Wall Systems

Here’s what we recommend you consider when considering LED-backlit video wall solutions:

Resolution And Pixel Pitch

Let’s talk about resolution and pixel pitch. If you’re like most people, you’ll recognize resolution, but you may not be as familiar with pixel pitch. To refresh, here’s the definition of each:

Resolution refers to the quantity of pixels per inch of screen. ⁽⁵⁾ For example, a 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160 means the screen is 3840 (commonly rounded to 4K) pixels wide and 2160 pixels high.

Pixel Pitch refers to the spacing between individual pixels on an LED display screen. ⁽⁶⁾

How these impact image clarity and viewing distance:

Higher Resolution = Better Image Quality: A higher resolution provides a clearer, more detailed image because it packs more pixels into the same physical space. It is particularly essential for displaying high-definition content, such as detailed graphics, text, or video, as it ensures that the image is crisp and not pixelated.

Resolution and Content Compatibility: When selecting a video wall, it’s essential to match the resolution of your content to the video wall’s resolution. If the video wall’s resolution is lower than the resolution of your content, you may lose detail and clarity.

Brightness And Contrast Ratio

Brightness is the quantity of light emitted by a display. Typically, we think of brightness in terms of Lumens, as is the case with light bulbs. However, in the case of display technologies, we measure the brightness by a unit called Nits. One nit is equal to one candela. ⁽⁷⁾

One candela is a standard unit for measuring luminous intensity. It gets stranger the deeper you go because the total amount of light is measured in lumens. We could discuss steradians and how one lumen per steradian equals one candela ⁽⁸⁾, but that’s jumping far too deep down the rabbit hole for our interests. Let’s bring it back to our purpose, the video wall, with a look at some standard brightness levels for video wall displays:

Typical Brightness Levels

• Indoor Displays: Typically range from 1000 to 1500 nits, which is sufficient for most indoor lighting conditions. ⁽⁹⁾
• Outdoor Displays: Often require brightness levels of 2,000 to 5,000 nits or more to be clearly visible under direct sunlight.

The contrast ratio is the difference in brightness (luminance) between a display’s darkest black and brightest white.

High vs Low Contrast

High Contrast Ratio

• Displays deeper blacks and brighter whites, which enhances image sharpness and makes colors appear more vibrant.
• Improves the visibility of fine details and texture, which is especially essential for high-definition content, videos, and text.
• Provides a more immersive viewing experience, as the depth and realism of images are better represented.

Low Contrast Ratio

• Results in images that may appear flat or washed out.
• Reduces the visual impact of the display, making it harder to distinguish between different shades and colors.
• Can lead to difficulties in seeing content clearly, especially in environments with mixed or low lighting.

Refresh Rate And Color Accuracy

All you gamers out there will know about frames per second, which is very similar to refresh rate. The refresh rate is the number of times a display refreshes its image per second. ⁽¹⁰⁾ 

A refresh rate is critical for smooth motion, and a lower refresh rate will show motion as ‘jumpy’ or staggered.

Color accuracy is just as you might expect: the ability for a display to show colors as true-to-life.

Viewing Angles And Modularity

When considering video wall-led solutions for your business, you may also want to consider viewing angle and modularity. However, these may not be as essential as the other display features we’ve discussed.

The viewing angle, with reference to displays, is the angle whereby one can view the display with acceptable visual performance. In other words, it’s the angle that you can still make out the image or video clearly before it distorts and becomes difficult to see. ⁽¹¹⁾

Modularity refers to the design and construction of a video wall system’s components. It pertains to the ability to replace or scale the system by replacing or adding further display components. For example, a video wall is highly modular if the displays (modules) are interchangeable and scalable if you add more modules. Modular systems are crucial if you want to enable future expansions of the system versus entire system replacement.

Unlocking the Potential of Your Business with LED Video Walls

Now that you have a solid understanding of LED video wall technology, it’s time to envision how it can transform your business. From enhancing customer engagement to improving internal communications, LED video walls offer a dynamic and versatile solution for a variety of applications. Their superior brightness, energy efficiency, modularity, and long lifespan make them a wise investment that not only boosts your visual presentation but also drives long-term value.

Whether you’re looking to create a stunning visual centerpiece in your lobby, enhance collaboration in your boardrooms, or capture attention with vivid digital signage, LED video walls provide the flexibility and impact you need. By integrating the right technology, you can deliver immersive, resonating experiences to your audience, elevate your brand, and set your business apart from the competition.

Ready to take the next step? Reach out to Century AV today to explore customized LED video wall solutions that perfectly align with your business goals. With the right partner by your side, you can unlock the full potential of your space and truly bring your vision to life.

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