My Janome dealer is no longer carrying the 8900 -- there are some great new features in the 9400, the list price of the 8900 is close to the 9400 and most customers want the 9400 so he has heavily discounted his 8900. The 8900 has a different accufeed than the 7700 and I think the 9400 has a different one yet -- I prefer the built in accufeed that only needs a relatively small foot to be attached. The Crescendo foot is huge -- even bigger than the old walking feet.