Ray,
For your budget (which is quite "comfortable") and your quality requirements, and since weight and size do not seem to be your highest priority, let me make the same suggestion that one of the best professional jazz musicians in Portugal made to me some time ago: 2 Mackies SR1530 ( http://www.mackie.com/products/sr1530/index.html ). Since you intend to use them for jazz acoustic music, you won't need subwoofers. I had the chance to listen to a jazz concert (his jazz quartet) through this system and the quality was the best I have ever experienced. If I didn't have weight and size constraints for my amateurish one-man-band jobs, this would be me PA, with no doubts.
In your budget you mention "pounds", so you're probably in Europe. And in Europe, you have another brand (a german brand) with an excellent reputation (not very popular in USA): Dynacord. But according to many opinions this expensive brand is overated and does not offer better sound fidelity than the Mackies. Hope this helps you deciding.

-- José.

[This message has been edited by Route 66 (edited 09-06-2004).]