Guide to Choosing a Podium or Lectern

Brand

ProjectorScreenStore.com offers a wide variety of choices among top brands of podiums and lecterns. Below are quick descriptions of the manufacturers for your reference.

I recommend: Anchor – For 30 years Anchor Audio's intelligible, reliable, and easy to use products have filled the world with sound.

Balt – Balt has made a name for itself by providing durable, quality Podiums & Lecterns at very affordable prices. From the simple T-Style to Sophisticated Multimedia capabilities.

Da-Lite – From simple, affordable Lecterns to Elegant Multimedia Podiums; Da-Lite has a huge spectrum of products to suit every need.

Hamilton – Hamilton has been producing rugged, durable Podiums and Lecterns designed for the Education Market since 1933.  

Luxor - Luxor manufactures a wide variety of school and office audio visual furniture, Lecterns and Podiums. 

Oklahoma Sound - An extremely robust selection of some of popular Podiums and Lecterns. Oklahoma Sound specializes in Podiums and lecterns with Multimedia capabilities.

Paso – Paso offers a wide variety of top quality lecterns and podiums with fully integrated audio systems.

Price

The price of your podium or lectern will depend on a few criteria. First is the type of the unit. Free standing floor units tend to be more expensive than tabletop units. More information on the different types of units is provided below. Second, if you are looking for a podium or lectern with a fully integrated audio system, this will dramatically increase the price. And finally, certain construction materials, finishes and customizations can increase the price. Projector Screen Store.com offers a wide variety of lecterns in all price ranges, including 30 for under US $150. The most advanced models can cost up to several thousand dollars.

I recommend: Check out the podium and lectern buyers guide at ProjectorScreenStore.com

Type: Floor, Stacking, or Table

Floor podiums or lecterns are free-standing units which speakers stand behind to give their presentation. They are available in a wide variety of styles and prices from the most basic stand to a fully integrated audio podium or lectern. Stacking Lecterns are floor lecterns with a removable top which may be placed on a tabletop. These models offer maximum flexibility in choosing how to position a speaker for a presentation. Stacking models with audio have the components built into the tabletop portion. This allows speakers to use the audio system whether the lectern is in stand-alone mode, or placed on a tabletop. Table Lecterns, or tabletop lecterns are placed on a table and are useful for panel presentation where one speaker is placed beside other panelists. As with all other styles, these are available in a number of finishes, and with many different audio options.

I recommend: If you have limited space or travel frequently, the table-top lecterns are a great, inexpensive podium solution.

Material / Finish / Color / Trim

The appearance of your lectern is greatly determined by the type of materials from which it is constructed, the style of the finish, the color, and the trim. Different materials have different properties. Wood lecterns are very professional looking and durable, but can be quite heavy. For lecterns with audio built in, wood is often the best choice. Most wood lecterns are made out of wood composite, however some of the high-end models are constructed entirely out of solid hardwood. Acrylic or plastic lecterns are light-weight, sleek in design, but do not offer all the amenities of their wood counterparts. They also do not look as classical as wood designs. Metal lecterns share many of the same properties as acrylic, but often come with wood surfaces, allowing users to enjoy the best qualities of simplicity and elegant designs. One final construction material is durable plastic, which is often used as a hard case for tabletop audio lecterns.

I recommend: Veneer finishes are made or real wood whereas laminates are synthetic.  Some lecterns are available with a carpet finish, where a thin layer of carpet is placed over the wooden base.  Solid hardwood podiums and lecterns come with a natural finish, and acrylic, metal and durable plastic podiums and lecterns have no finish at all. Lecterns come in many colors, all depending upon the style.  Acrylic lecterns are clear in color.  Carpeted lecterns are available in either black or grey.  The largest variety of choice comes with wood colors.  Lecterns come in a variety of options, including cherry, oak, mahogany and walnut colors.  Keep in mind that if you choose a veneer finish, the wood is real, and the color depends on the natural qualities of the piece of wood used.Many models of podiums and lecterns come with trim options.  Trim refers to decorative strips which line the corners and borders of the outer surfaces. 

Audio

One of the key considerations in choosing a podium or lectern is whether you want a fully-integrated audio system built in. If you will be using the lectern in a large or otherwise noisy room, and you do not have an existing amplification system, then it is advisable to purchase a lectern with audio built in. There are several key specifications which qualify audio lecterns. **Amplifier/Wattage - This refers to the number of watts of output from the speakers. A 40-watt amplifier is adequate for an audience of up to 2,000 people, and a 50-watt amplifier works well for an audience up to 3,000 people. **Wired or Wireless - Many lecterns on the market have both wired and wireless capability. Wireless microphones allow the speaker to move freely during their presentation. **Speakers - When looking at speakers built into the lectern, be sure to find out how many speakers there are, and the diameter size (in inches).

I recommend: Microphones – Audio lecterns will come with microphones, often a few different varieties to use depending on the situation.  Common microphone types include handheld and tie-clip.

Inputs/outputs – Inputs may be used for microphones or other audio components such as cassette, CD, or MP3 players.  Outputs may be used for additional speakers or recording devices.

Controls – Controls may include volume, tone, bass/treble and also an on/off switch.

Power supply – Most lecterns plug directly into an outlet, and many come with optional rechargeable batteries.