I hate to say they're all the same in terms of quality, but it's probably not that far from the truth in the $800-$1,500 range. Like the Green Hornet said, it's more a question of features and how they match you particular needs or recording methods. If you are going to record just a few acoustic tracks, you won't need a 16 track recorder cabable of recording 8 inputs at one time. Instead, being able to record at 24bit resolution might be more important and 8-10 tracks might work.On the other hand, if you are a drummer and want to mic up a full drum kit, multiple inputs are crucial. If you have some outboard gear, the internal effects on these machines are probably just a convenience and it's more important that the recorder is able to setup an insert or some method of integrating your external gear. And while built-in CD burners are nice, you might not need one if you plan on exporting tracks to a computer for editing. Here, the computer interface is more important and you might make a decision on how easy it is to transfer WAV files to your computer. At any rate, you get the idea.
The other thing to keep in mind is where you want to be in a couple of years and what kind of recording quality you are after. These machines are often called SIAB's or Studio-In-A-Box. To be honest, though, you are really getting a mini home studio with plenty of limitations. You won't be able to do all the complex things that the pros do and, remember, that if these machines could produce pro results, you would find them in pro studios. That doesn't mean you're not talented or that you can't produce "decent" material or a good demo. It just means that there are limits. The other issue with the SIAB is upgrading. Many machines come with mixers, effects, preamps, converters, and just about everything you need (short of monitors) to make recorded music. The downside to this is that the manufacturer has been forced to make some hard decisions about the quality of indiviual components. For $800 to $1,500, you can't have the best AD converters, the best preamps, and the best mixer. As a result, you end up getting a series of (hopefully) decent pieces of equipment in one box. If you don't like something, however, it's important to be able to modify the SIAB with outboard gear. And chances are if you grow as a studio muscician/engineer you will eventually want more options. So check to see that whatever you buy can be bypassed.
