Active speakers are a distinguished choice for ease of setup and consistent sound quality. For various price ranges, here are a few options:
Budget-Friendly: The Behringer Eurolive series offers decent performance without breaking the bank. They're quite robust, though some users find them a bit heavy.
Mid-Range: The QSC K Series is highly recommended for its clarity and durability. They're great for both indoor and outdoor gigs and have built-in DSP which allows you to tweak the sound to suit the venue.
High-End: Yamaha DXR Series and the Bose F1 Model 812 are fantastic choices for premium sound quality with high reliability and versatility in setup configurations.
From personal experience, I've used the QSC K12.2 and found it extremely reliable with excellent sound coverage for medium to large venues. The only downside is their weight; they can be cumbersome if you're setting up alone.
Always check current user reviews as models can evolve, affecting performance and reliability.