I've been researching this owuestion because K am in the market as well. Janome's Horizon - this year's version ahs an 11"inch arm - I understand that if you can get to a quilt show - they ar less than $2K there. I plan on going to Knoxville to play and eventually buy. I was goibng to buy locally but the store that does my 'tune-up's' is selling last year's model for over $2K and it has a 9 inche arm - just be careful! - fyi