For a house of worship, the decision between a 98” flat screen TV and a 4′ high x 8′ wide video wall depends on factors like visibility for congregants, content flexibility, and ease of use. large box stores are now now selling 98″ screen TVs and they are easy to obtain and smaller video walls are available online are are pretty easy to install and operate. Both options have their benefits, but the best choice depends on your space, content needs, budget, and viewing experience priorities. There are a few points to consider for each.
98″ Flat Screen TV
The positive points for the large flat screen are simplicity, reliability, high Image quality, Cost effectiveness, and minimal distractions. A single, large TV can be easy to install, use, and maintain, with fewer potential points of failure compared to a video wall. Most high-end 98” TVs have excellent resolution, color, and contrast. A large TV is typically more affordable, both for initial purchase and maintenance. Without panel seams, there’s a more cohesive, distraction-free display.
Plus online small linking processor boxes allow you to link four or more large screens together, so the flat screens can work well for the do yourself church staff. This allows the your church tech crew easily installation and cabling.
The large-scale flat screen does have some negatives like limited screen size, flexibility & static content burn out. In larger worship spaces, a single 98” screen might not be large enough for those seated far from it. It will limit your ability to display multiple types of content simultaneously. Locking an image on the screen for long hours may lead to a burned-in image pattern on the flat.
Small Video Wall
The positives on a small video wall are presence, flexibility, versatility, brightness and light handling. Video walls are scalable and provide an immersive experience that can be easily seen by larger congregations. You can display multiple content sections, such as lyrics, sermon notes, and video simultaneously, making it highly versatile for worship services. Video walls are often brighter, which can be beneficial if your sanctuary has ambient light that can wash out standard screens. The video wall can also overcome the light reflection from your lighting fixtures.
The negatives are cost, seams and complexity. Video walls tend to be more expensive upfront and may require additional investment in professional setup and periodic maintenance. Depending on the wall type, seams between panels may be visible, which could be distracting, especially for close viewers. Video walls are generally more complex, both in initial setup and technical maintenance.
Recommendation
If you’re looking for an immersive experience with flexibility and plan to use it for varied content, the video wall might be the better choice. If you need a straightforward, high-quality display with easier setup and maintenance, a 98″ TV would be more practical. For a typical house of worship setting, a 4′ x 8′ video wall could be the better choice due to its greater visibility, flexibility for displaying varied content, and enhanced engagement.
