Originally Posted by Sayma:
“Thanks for your replies everyone.
The reason that I wanted to buy is because this will probably turn into a regular arrangements so in the long run it would work out cheaper to buy and then just keep in storage to use as and when needed.”
Yeah, if it's definitely going to be a regular event then that dies change the economics (it might have been useful to mention that in your first post) but it wouldn't change my recommendation for PA system.
Originally Posted by Sayma:
“Having said that, even if I go down the route of hiring I still have no idea what I need so the above information has still been helpful.”
Start off by looking at something along the lines of the Mackie speakers and Behringer mixer from the link I posted (have you had a look?); purchase cost around £400.
The speakers have amplification built in. This helps keep costs down and potentially makes setup simpler. The mixer provides volume control and the ability to add voice over the music if you buy a mic. A bigger mixer simply adds more channels so that you can fade from one music source to another without the sort of silence. Sliders (faders) on a mixer make that easier to do because they're easier to move than twisting a dial.
Power: People starting out with PA gear get a bit obsessed with wattage claims from the budget manufacturers. They tend to quote in a way that produces a very big number without it being made obvious that the real wattage for everyday use will be much lower. The buying tip then is to take the wattage claims with a pinch of salt. Seek the advice of a good PA sales/hire shop. The stuff they'really putting out on hire needs to work reliably, so it's a reasonable indicator of what they have faith in and maybe too what you should buy.
Now it's your turn to start filling in some blanks. How big is the hall and how many people are you likely to be entertaining? Also think about transport and storage. A small PA system might fit in to the boot of a Focus/Astra and be plenty powerful enough to keep 40-50 people entertained. The more people you want to play to (or the louder you want to play) then the bigger the gear is going to get. Playing to 200 people at rave party levels might mean you're filling a large estate car or small van.