| Choosing a Podium or Lectern | | | | |
| | | | Material / Finish / Color / Trim |
| Introduction | | | | |
| | | | The appearance of your lectern is greatly |
| When giving a professional presentation at | | | | determined by the type of materials from |
| work, school, or an organization, podiums and | | | | which it is constructed, the style of the |
| lecterns help speakers stay organized and | | | | finish, the color, and the trim. Different |
| reach audiences effectively. The first step | | | | materials have different properties. Wood |
| in finding the right podium or lectern is to | | | | lecterns are very professional looking and |
| learn the terminology for the various product | | | | durable, but can be quite heavy. For lecterns |
| options. 'Lectern', 'Podium', 'Pulpit' and | | | | with audio built in, wood is often the best |
| 'Rostrum' are used interchangeably, and the | | | | choice. Most wood lecterns are made out of |
| word choice depends more on the user | | | | wood composite, however some of the high-end |
| application than the actual product. For the | | | | models are constructed entirely out of solid |
| purposes of this guide, we will refer to | | | | hardwood. Acrylic or plastic lecterns are |
| these products as podiums or lecterns, since | | | | light-weight, sleek in design, but do not |
| they are the most commonly used terms. | | | | offer all the amenities of their wood |
| | | | counterparts. They also do not look as |
| There are many styles of podiums and | | | | classical as wood designs. Metal lecterns |
| lecterns, and with so many varieties on the | | | | share many of the same properties as acrylic, |
| market, it can be difficult to choose the | | | | but often come with wood surfaces, allowing |
| podium or lectern which best suits your | | | | users to enjoy the best qualities of |
| needs. Projector Screen features an easy to | | | | simplicity and elegant designs. One final |
| use selection wizard which allows users to | | | | construction material is durable plastic, |
| sort through top brands to find the right | | | | which is often used as a hard case for |
| podium or lectern for any application. Below | | | | tabletop audio lecterns. These are very |
| is the buyers guide compiled by the | | | | sturdy, yet more utilitarian in appearance. |
| presentation experts at Projector Screen | | | | |
| Each of the major search criteria are | | | | Projector Screen also allows you to choose by |
| outlined and explained. These criteria | | | | finish. The finish refers to the layer of |
| correspond to choices on the selection wizard | | | | material placed on top of the basic |
| at Projector Screen Store.com, and make | | | | structure. For example, you can have a wood |
| choosing a podium or lectern an easy process. | | | | lectern with a veneer or laminate finish. |
| | | | Veneer finishes are made or real wood whereas |
| Brand | | | | laminates are synthetic. Some lecterns are |
| | | | available with a carpet finish, where a thin |
| Projector Screen offers a wide variety of | | | | layer of carpet is placed over the wooden |
| choices among top brands of podiums and | | | | base. |
| lecterns. Below are quick descriptions of the | | | | |
| manufacturers for your reference. | | | | Solid hardwood podiums and lecterns come with |
| | | | a natural finish, and acrylic, metal and |
| Anchor - For 30 years Anchor Audio's | | | | durable plastic podiums and lecterns have no |
| intelligible, reliable, and easy to use | | | | finish at all. |
| products have filled the world with sound. | | | | |
| | | | Lecterns come in many colors, all depending |
| Balt - Balt has made a name for itself by | | | | upon the style. Acrylic lecterns are clear in |
| providing durable, quality Podiums & Lecterns | | | | color. Carpeted lecterns are available in |
| at very affordable prices. From the simple | | | | either black or grey. The largest variety of |
| T-Style to Sophisticated Multimedia | | | | choice comes with wood colors. Lecterns come |
| capabilities, Balt has a full product line | | | | in a variety of options, including cherry, |
| for all applications. | | | | oak, mahogany and walnut colors. Keep in mind |
| | | | that if you choose a veneer finish, the wood |
| Da-Lite - From simple, affordable Lecterns to | | | | is real, and the color depends on the natural |
| Elegant Multimedia Podiums; Da-Lite has a | | | | qualities of the piece of wood used. |
| huge spectrum of products to suit every need. | | | | |
| | | | Many models of podiums and lecterns come with |
| Hamilton - Hamilton has been producing | | | | trim options. Trim refers to decorative |
| rugged, durable Podiums and Lecterns designed | | | | strips which line the corners and borders of |
| for the Education Market since 1933. These | | | | the outer surfaces. The most common trim |
| Lecterns & Podiums are designed to stand up | | | | options are either metallic (brass or |
| to the rigors of every day institutional use. | | | | bronze), or wooden (oak is the most common). |
| | | | |
| Luxor - Luxor manufactures a wide variety of | | | | Audio |
| school and office audio visual furniture, | | | | |
| Lecterns and Podiums. All of Luxor's durable | | | | One of the key considerations in choosing a |
| podiums & lecterns are covered by the | | | | podium or lectern is whether you want a |
| manufacturer's Lifetime Warranty. | | | | fully-integrated audio system built in. If |
| | | | you will be using the lectern in a large or |
| Oklahoma Sound - An extremely robust | | | | otherwise noisy room, and you do not have an |
| selection of some of popular Podiums and | | | | existing amplification system, then it is |
| Lecterns. Oklahoma Sound specializes in | | | | advisable to purchase a lectern with audio |
| Podiums and lecterns with Multimedia | | | | built in. There are several key |
| capabilities. | | | | specifications which qualify audio lecterns. |
| | | | A brief description of each is given below. |
| Paso - Paso offers a wide variety of top | | | | |
| quality lecterns and podiums with fully | | | | Amplifier/Wattage - This refers to the number |
| integrated audio systems. | | | | of watts of output from the speakers. A |
| | | | 40-watt amplifier is adequate for an audience |
| Price | | | | of up to 2,000 people, and a 50-watt |
| | | | amplifier works well for an audience up to |
| The price of your podium or lectern will | | | | 3,000 people. |
| depend on a few criteria. First is the type | | | | |
| of the unit. Free standing floor units tend | | | | Wired or Wireless - Many lecterns on the |
| to be more expensive than tabletop units. | | | | market have both wired and wireless |
| More information on the different types of | | | | capability. Wireless microphones allow the |
| units is provided below. Second, if you are | | | | speaker to move freely during their |
| looking for a podium or lectern with a fully | | | | presentation. |
| integrated audio system, this will | | | | |
| dramatically increase the price. And finally, | | | | Speakers - When looking at speakers built |
| certain construction materials, finishes and | | | | into the lectern, be sure to find out how |
| customizations can increase the price. | | | | many speakers there are, and the diameter |
| Projector Screen offers a wide variety of | | | | size (in inches). |
| lecterns in all price ranges, including 30 | | | | |
| for under US $150. The most advanced models | | | | Microphones - Audio lecterns will come with |
| can cost up to several thousand dollars. | | | | microphones, often a few different varieties |
| | | | to use depending on the situation. Common |
| Podium or Lectern Type: Floor, Stacking, or | | | | microphone types include handheld and |
| Table | | | | tie-clip. |
| | | | |
| Floor podiums or lecterns are free-standing | | | | Inputs/outputs - Inputs may be used for |
| units which speakers stand behind to give | | | | microphones or other audio components such as |
| their presentation. They are available in a | | | | cassette, CD, or MP3 players. Outputs may be |
| wide variety of styles and prices from the | | | | used for additional speakers or recording |
| most basic stand to a fully integrated audio | | | | devices. |
| podium or lectern. | | | | |
| | | | Controls - Controls may include volume, tone, |
| Stacking Lecterns are floor lecterns with a | | | | bass/treble and also an on/off switch. |
| removable top which may be placed on a | | | | |
| tabletop. These models offer maximum | | | | Power supply - Most lecterns plug directly |
| flexibility in choosing how to position a | | | | into an outlet, and many come with optional |
| speaker for a presentation. Stacking models | | | | rechargeable batteries. |
| with audio have the components built into the | | | | |
| tabletop portion. This allows speakers to use | | | | Misc |
| the audio system whether the lectern is in | | | | |
| stand-alone mode, or placed on a tabletop. | | | | When choosing the right podium or lectern for |
| | | | your needs, there are many other features |
| Table Lecterns, or tabletop lecterns are | | | | which you may find helpful. Some of the most |
| placed on a table and are useful for panel | | | | common features include lockable wheels or |
| presentation where one speaker is placed | | | | casters, adjustable light, adjustable height, |
| beside other panelists. As with all other | | | | built-in clock, and internal shelving. Be |
| styles, these are available in a number of | | | | sure to note the dimensions of the podium or |
| finishes, and with many different audio | | | | lectern to make sure it fits your space |
| options. | | | | requirements. |