Best class machine investment I made was a Janome 3160 DC.
It has the automatic thread cutter for piecing and I wouldn't be without it. The Jems do not have auto thread cutter. Some of the Jems do not have the needle up needle down. The 3160 stitches at 820 stitches per minute where the Jems stitch at 650. Both the 3160 and Jem Platinum have 60 stitches built in, the Jem Gold has 12.The 3160 has 7MM zig zag, the Jems are 5MM. The Jems weigh 12 lbs.,the 3160 is 12.5 lbs.The number one reason I purchased the Janome 3160 was strictly the automatic thread cutter. I got so used to it in piecing on my Janome 6600 which is way to heavy to lug around at 24 lbs.
D in TX