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The Rane Empath is nice but you're paying for quality rather than features, and because of that it's only 3 channels. For four channel ones, I'd probably get the DN-X1500 or the Ecler Nuo5. The Ecler has better sound quality but I don't like that it treats certain types of lines** differently(gives some different gains than others). The DN-X1500 doesn't have as great sound quality but has matrix inputs, meaning any input is assignable to any channel. It also doesn't have hardcoded "line types" like the Elcer, so it(at least in my opinion) is more versatile and adaptable. Another mixer to consider in that pricerange(maybe a little more expensive, but not too much more) is the Xone62. It has high sound quality(some people say that the Ecler sound quality is as good as it), but doesn't have as many features as the Ecler and Denon. The Denon has upgradeable firmware** which will allow them to add new effects. The Ecler can't be upgraded in the same way(I think), but you can hook it up to a computer to modify some of the effects parameters. On the Denon, some of the effects parameters can be modified on the unit itself in the software.
*On the Ecler there are four phono inputs, three h-line inputs, and three l-line units(someone correct me if I'm wrong). The h-line units have lower gains than the l-line units and are designed for cd players, whereas the l-line units are designed for other line sources, like computers and sequencers. This means that if you have 4 cd sources, such as two DN-S5000's, you won't be able to use it without at least one of the lines being different in terms of the volume. I'd find this annoying but this is my preference. I don't own the mixer nor DN-S5000's so I have no personal experience with this.
**It hasn't come out yet but they say its coming out very soon. It's also supposed to correct a bug involving fader lag, which shouldn't affect you unless you scratch.
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$1,000 :: Name Your Mixer
