I have the Crown CE 1000 and two JBL EON 1500 Speakers. 8 Ohms Stereo is 275 watts per channel. From the Crown manual "Be careful about turning up the amp. The amp is so clean you won't realize how loud it really is. Also there is the five year, please don't throw it out of the truck while it's moving warranty. Years ago I went shopping with a friend for a guitar amp. We played every amp for sale in Atlanta. By the end of the week I could sense solid state vs. tubes just by the headache returning. I don't feel that from the Crown. A friend of mine got an equivalent Carvin. That night when he plugged it in I remembered why I hated that week of amp shopping.
Before you buy your PA I would like to strongly recommend you try the new Bose PA at Guitar Center. The advantages, beside it's the best sounding system I have ever heard, are too numerous to mention here.
Good luck with your purchase.