Re: Small Portable PA Suggestions
What we use for similar reasons are EV QRX115s and JBL SRX 728s (pictured below all ready to roll out). The 115s have a pole mount, flytrack built in, Biampable OR passive, get pretty loud and sound really pretty good. Subs stay on the ground at this level. Its a rocking rig, we have larger stuffs and more subs for larger events but for a couple hundred people its pretty hard to beat. Sets up quick too. This rig should fit very close to your budget actually.
Powered or not, I would try to raise your budget just a bit and buy boxes that have the most uses, (FOH, Monitors, Fills etc etc) That way they can make you some money over time, even if you outgrow them as FOH boxes. Also used Peavey QW boxes would stomp all over most powered or other used boxes in your price range....Dont get too hung up on brand names but dont go out and some piece of junk either.
