Portable active PA set, recommendations?

[Kuko 4000]

I'm saving up for a portable active PA system, my budget is around 1000 euros (1300 USD). This is mainly for personal DJ use in small club / lounge type surroundings, 50-300 people capacity. Music comes almost 100% from vinyl. Music styles range from ambient to black metal and everything in between, but mainly blues, jazz, soul, prog rock and electronic.

I've been looking at these two for starters:

B-52 Matrix-1000V2 Speaker System with Stands

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...Stands?sku=500290&CJAID=10381297&CJPID=924417

And:

HK AUDIO LUCAS SMART BUNDLE

http://www.thomann.de/fi/hk_audio_lucas_smart_bundle.htm

I appreciate any recommendations, user comments and / or links to good websites discussing or reviewing portable active PA systems.

 

[Questioninggeller]

Whatever you do, go with active speakers, hopefully with XLR connections. Whether a small club with subs, a small set (with one speaker and no room for a mixer-just), or a larger set up you can incorporate the active speakers however you wish. Passive, such as the ones above, are much more limited and you'll never feel like you're getting enough power.

Do not get passive 10" speakers to use as a main for a club. If you go with passive speakers with a powered PA, get 15". Also either get two subs (one sub per side) or none, getting one sub will leave you sounding unbalanced.

My advice is to save up and get Mackie's 12" active speakers; (musician's friend link). Nevermind that they are not 15", they have more power than you'll expect including being louder than active 15". Temperature controlled, 1/4 and XLR input, very loud, warranty, workable with or without subs (when you get the money to build more), shaped for a main or a wedge. You can buy one, run it from any mixer (passive or active), expand to two, then add subs, and later if you expand more you can use them as monitors with a system with serious power.


Stay anyway from anything made by Nady or Behringer.

 

[IMST]

The only difference between passive and active speakers is where the power amp is actually located. I personally prefer to work with passive so I can have access to power amp during the show, but those Mackie active mains are fine equipment for the price.

 

[madurobob]

Seconded on the Mackies. Excellent capability at 12". I have a pair I use for parties in my 1 acre backyard, with a couple instrument cabs I built myself for subs. More than sufficient.