From Churches to Simulation to Classrooms to Control Centers: Why DV- LED Displays Are Replacing Projectors

At Vanguard, we’ve seen a growing shift from traditional projection to DV-LED displays across industries—churches, simulations, classrooms, and control centers. Customers are choosing DV-LED for its superior resolution, clarity in ambient light, and low-maintenance performance. This blog highlights why DV-LED technology is becoming the go-to choice for modern visual applications.

Resolution

• DV/LED simulation displays are now available in a pixel pitch of P0.9. A 4.84m diameter display results in arc minutes of 2.56. Therefore, the resolution of a 4.84m diameter simulation DV/LED at a Pixel Pitch of P0.9 DV/LED is comparable to projectors.

Ambient Light

• Front projection is compromised when ambient light, that is light from windows, skylights and/or lighting fixtures intrudes on the auditorium, sanctuary, etc. Projected images will appear faded as ambient light will wash out the projected image. Colors will not be sharp or deep. Blacks will not look intense. While rooms can be darkened with shades, curtains, turning off lights, sitting in the dark is not the optimal atmosphere for a corporate presentation or church service.
• LED displays on the other hand are not affected by ambient light. Colors always appear sharp and deep. In most indoor applications LED displays can be run at 50% brightness or even less and still be intense enough to not be impacted by ambient light.

Shadows

• As is often the case, a presenter in a corporate meeting setting may want to be up at the screen. A presenter in front of a projection screen will cast a shadow on the screen.
• A straggler walking in front of the screen will cause a shadow.
• If a participant on stage walks in front of the screen it will cause a shadow.
• Standing in front of an LED display has no impact on the images shown.

Multiple Projectors

• The image size a single projector can project is limited. Beyond a certain size, you need to use multiple projectors. This requires skilled technicians and software to blend the image between the projectors being used to create a single image.
• There are no limits on the size an LED displays can be, as it is as simple attaching more LED cabinets in both the height and width as needed, with “edge blending” a non-issue.

Projector Placement

• When using multiple projectors to achieve a large-blended image, the physical location of the projectors to each other is critical. If a single projector is moved for any reason all the projectors have to be re-aligned, which is a time-consuming tedious undertaking.

Fan Noise

• All projectors have fans. Fans make noise. Some projectors are louder than others, but they all produce some fan noise.
• There are no fans in an LED display, so an LED display will not distract the presentation with noise the way projection will.

Maintenance

• Projectors require more maintenance than LED as they contain expensive bulbs that have a short lifespan and many moving parts. While newer generation projectors using laser rather than bulbs have cut down on needed maintenance for projectors, the cost and maintenance of projectors is still more than what is required with LED displays where little or no maintenance is needed.

Simulation Using Cylinders and Domes

• Using projectors for simulation is a complex, expensive undertaking. Ambient light creates shadows, and images that are not sharp. The expense of replacing bulbs adds up. But the most serious problem, in using projection, is that if after having set up multiple projectors, they are jostled or moved slightly, the set-up process has to start over from the beginning, which can be a very frustrating, time-consuming process.
• Vanguard uses flexible LED tiles to create curved LED video display domes and cylinders that have seamless rounded curves. Images are continuous. Ambient light has no effect on these LED video displays. Images are fed directly to the LED screen, therefore any movement in the simulation area is irrelevant.
• The high resolution that was needed in certain LED display simulation applications was lacking until now. However, flex LED displays can now achieve a very small pixel pitch of P0.9 and as a result the arc minutes LED flex tiles can hit are very low and the resolution can meet any demand.

Conclusion

As a leader in LED display innovation, Vanguard delivers high-resolution, seamless DV-LED solutions that outperform projection in every environment. Whether you’re presenting in a bright auditorium or building immersive simulations, DV-LED is the future—and we’re here to help you lead the way.