Excessive: 4 x Mackie SRM450s + 2 x Mackie SWA1801?

You NEED lighting!! Thats the other half of the atmoshpere. Just a few
simple DJ effects wont cost much. But they will make a hell of a change to
the atmosphere.

DP
...

Three hundred people is a big difference. You may not have enough bottom end
to travel through that crowd. However, Stick with the Mackies though. The
G2s are great. But the mackies with subs are a better option as JBL dont
make a powered sub specifically designed for the G2 15s. The G2 ( 250 watt)
subs are gutless compared with the Mackie and are really designed to work
with the G2 10s.

With your original spec you wont have enough bottom end to travel to the
back of the room. But it will do the dance floor ok. I would stick with
that given the options you have. Removing a 450 will reduce your tops
somewhat and frankly, the idea of three stacks just doesnt work in my mind.

Perhaps you could screw the hire co a little and tell em they have the
booking if they throw in the extra subs.

DP
...

The building is half of a hotel ballroom, in a separate building a
long away away from hotel guests.

Also re: budget, we already decided not to have any lights/smoke. The
money has to be spent on speakers (amps). Defiinitely a case of how
long is a piece of string, but I just wanted to make sure I was in the
right ballpark, don't want to spoil the party for those wanting to
dance by not having a good enough sound system.

Scott

When I say work, the 'workforce' consists of 1000+ people in their 20s
to early 30s, about 100-200 people are the party going type and will
turn up with like-minded friends. So we're expecting about 200-300 at
the party.

Realistically at the absolute peak I expect no more than 150 on the
floor at once. On average, yeah it'll be way less than those numbers.

I just hit the budget limit for equipment, can't get 4 tops and 4
subs, so probably going to have to go with:

2 x 450 (playing full range)
2x SWA1801 and 2x 450s (wired through the freq cut off of the subs)

OR:

3x SWA1801 and 3x 450s (wired through the freq cut off of the subs)
not exactly stereo...

Incidentally, the rental guy said he played in a band with 2x SWA1801
and 2x 450s to a crowd of 700 people...which I thought was
surprising...I guess the music he was playing was no where near as
reliant on bass as the tunes I'll be playing...

I also have the option of swapping out the 450s for JBL EON G2s, or
passives + amps

Budget is $300 for speakers (inc amps) see what you can come up with
here if you want some fun :o)
#

Scott

...

I agree to a point. However he is talking about a smallish venue. Its all
about the levels he wants to run with however. Dependant on neighbouring
buildings, houses, businesses etc , two srm450s and the swa1801s will easily
do a crowd of 150. This sort of thing comes down to 'how long is a peice of
string'. A 'real' club would have an eaw,kv2 or martin system for instance.
Basically he is doing a mobile gig. To go bigger may just be over spending
on the pa at the risk of underspending on lighting etc.

DP