AlaskaAlice, I have owned an Espire Babylock quilting machine. It was a wonderful machine, but I sold it because I wanted a machine with an accufeed/dualfeed foot for quilting. I bought the Janome Horizon and that too is a great machine. The Espire had features that the Horizon does not and vise versa. Both of the machines were high end and both equally as good. Brother bought out Babylock and the machines are now basically the same. I am a little closer to my Janome dealer (3 hours one way). The Babylock dealer is 4 1/2 hrs away. Also, our Janome dealer takes trade-ins, making it easier to upgrade. I did however, love my Babylock. I don't think you will be disappointed in either brand and it's quality. You'll have to decide which features are more important to your style /experience in sewing. Not sure I have been much help.