Lonman over the last 2 weeks we have been playing at large venues to crowds of from 280 to 360. Your advice to me early on arrival at this forum was spot on. I ran my powered speakers at full volume and kept the individual channels low and the result was crystal clear sound that had folk commenting that it wasnt too loud up close yet could be heard right down the very back. I am very much enamoured of my speakers after sound checking alongside of the 2nd band (a different band both nights) one band used quests and the other EV. In both instances my speaker's sound was comparable or better.
This last saturday night the band (who I consider the best in the area) were so impressed with our speakers and so unimpressed with the performance of theirs that I allowed them to plug into mine when we had finished.
there was a part of me that thought nah let them sound worse than us...but at the end of the day I felt responsible to ensure that the whole night not just our segment went well so as everyone wants to return next year.
Again thank you for your solid advice that gave me confidence.