All-in-One vs. Component-Based dvLED: What’s the Difference?

A Direct View LED (dvLED) display is built from LED modules that tile together into one large image. There are two ways to get one, and what separates them is cost, time and risk.

The traditional approach is component-based. The display cabinets, the processing unit, the power distribution and the control system are separate products that have to be designed, purchased and integrated together. It works well for large-scale custom installations.

The modern approach is All-in-One, where all the separate components are built into a single unit. You specify the display, you receive a complete system, and you install it. For most enterprise buyers and AV integrators, that’s the right starting point.

What Goes Into a Component-Based dvLED Build?

The cabinets, the processor, the power distribution and the control system are separate purchases, each sourced and integrated by whoever is building the system.

The cabinets come from one place and the video processor from another. Power distribution has to be designed for the array. Then the modules have to be stitched into a single image, which means stitching software licensed, configured and color-calibrated on site.

Integrators do this well, and for a genuinely custom installation it’s the right approach. Compared to All-in-One dvLED, what adds to each traditional project is cost, time and risk. Every one of those decisions belongs to somebody, and each additional vendor is a delivery date you don’t control.

What Does All-in-One Change?

Processing, power and mounting are built in, so there’s no separate media player or control box to source. Image stitching is software-free and factory-calibrated, which means tiles of the wall arrive already matched instead of needing to be color-tuned in the room.

A pre-configured All-in-One display is a single part number. Even a made-to-order configurable one runs two to three, against the dozens of separate components a component-based build requires. That difference is how the project is quoted, how long it takes the project to finalize, and how many delivery dates need to be scheduled.

Control system compatibility comes with the display too. Every ViewSonic dvLED series supports Q-SYS Library Verified plugins plus Crestron, Extron and AMX over IP and RS-232. On a component-based build that’s a separate question, because the control system has to talk to whichever processor was specified, and confirming it is somebody’s job before the room goes live.

Which Factors Decide Between Component-Based and All-in-One?

Both approaches can put a working wall on the site. The differences show up after the sale, in who owns the design, who services the wall and how many suppliers have to deliver on time.

• Design Ownership: If the finished wall does not fit the space or the content, who is ultimately responsible for the result? A component-based build involves multiple vendors, so the answer depends on which part of the system is at fault, and sorting that out takes time. With an All-in-One display, one manufacturer owns the design and the outcome.
• Stitching and Calibration: Is the image matched at the factory or configured on site? A component-based build is stitched and color-matched in the room after installation, and that work has to be repeated whenever modules are replaced. ViewSonic All-in-One dvLED arrives factory-calibrated, so a replacement tile matches the wall without a recalibration pass.
• Service Without the Integrator: When a module fails in year three, can your facilities team handle it, or does the original integrator have to come back? On a component build, service routes back through whoever specified and calibrated the system. ViewSonic tiles are front-serviceable and hot-swappable, and every system ships with calibrated spare tiles equal to 5% of the tile count, so an in-house team can make the swap.
• Vendors in the Quote: How many companies have to deliver on schedule for the wall to open on time? A component-based build coordinates cabinets, processing, power distribution and control across separate suppliers, and each one is a delivery date you do not control. A pre-configured All-in-One display is a single part number from a single manufacturer.

Where to Start

For most rooms, All-in-One is the answer. It reduces project complexity, shortens the timeline and makes the system easier to quote, approve and deploy at scale.

Component-based still has a place in large-scale custom installations when no All-in-One display, pre-configured or configurable, meets the requirement. Outside of that, it adds cost, time and risk without adding benefits.

Once you’ve decided on All-in-One, the next question is which ViewSonic series fits, which comes down to whether a standard size serves your space. Our guide to pre-configured versus configurable dvLED walks through that decision.

Explore ViewSonic large venue solutions to see the All-in-One dvLED range built to command attention with high-impact visuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does All-in-One dvLED Mean?

All-in-One dvLED means the processing, power and mounting are integrated into a single unit, rather than being specified, purchased and assembled from separate components on site. There’s no separate media player or control box to source.

What Is Image Stitching, and Why Does Factory Calibration Matter?

Stitching combines multiple LED modules into one continuous image. On a component-based build it’s configured and color-matched on site, which takes time and has to be redone when modules are replaced. ViewSonic All-in-One dvLED uses software-free stitching that’s calibrated at the factory.

Does All-in-One dvLED Still Need a System Integrator?

Not for the system design, since the display arrives as a complete unit. You’ll still want a qualified installer for the physical mount and the electrical work, and ViewSonic’s U.S.-based Solutions Engineers provide pre-sales site assessment at no additional cost. AV integrators can also earn a ViewSonic dvLED Installation Certification through a two-day training program at the Brea, California headquarters.

When Does a Component-Based Build Still Make Sense?

A component-based build makes sense for large-scale custom installations when no All-in-One display, pre-configured or configurable, meets the requirement. For nearly every other project it adds cost, time and risk without adding capability, which is why All-in-One is the starting point for most enterprise deployments.

Proper wall suitability, reinforcement, and professional installation are the sole responsibility of the customer, installer, or system integrator. ViewSonic assumes no liability for any equipment damage, property damage, or personal injury resulting from incorrect installation. Any references to third-party software, control systems, corporate names, or trademarks are for identification and compatibility purposes only and do not imply endorsement, affiliation, or sponsorship by their respective owners.