Live PA rig

[ilovminniedriver]

I know this isn't really for recording, but I figured someone here might be able to help out. I'm looking to upgrade my band's PA. The current band is two guitar players, each with a 50w tube amp, bass player with a 200w deal, and a drummer. The PA we're using now is for vocals (lead and one background singer), keys, and a MIDI drum thing our drummer is using for some songs. We're running all that crap through a Behringer mixer (soon to be tossed, as it is about to die), into a 500w EV amp from the 80s, and then out to two 400watt 15" speaker cabs. This setup is good for practice, but starts to become inadequate during some of the louder songs. Any advice on replacing the amp or mixer would be great. Thanks--

[garageband]

There are lots of good used Mackie VLZs on eBay for dirt cheap. Another sleeper (I have one) is the older blue Allen and Heaths. Made in England and sound great for cheap. I'd ditch the EV too, possibly in favor of a Carvin or Mackie.

[ilovminniedriver]

I guess I'm looking more for a power amp than a mixer. I've got a little mixer I can get by with, I was just wondering if anyone has experience with PAs, and whether a crown or crest is worth the money in terms of volume/reliability per dollar, or if the cheaper makes are damn near the same quality. I've had a number of bad experiences with Behringer, so I know I won't pick up one of those.

[garageband]

Volume and reliability come from the entire signal chain. Higher fidelity translates to greater perceived volume for the same power. Crest and Crown are fine brands but make some less than stellar products toward the bottom end of their range. You don't get what you don't pay for.