I used a walmart brother for years and it did everything I needed... but as I found my self quilting more I wanted more throat space. I started researching and test driving. I ended up deciding on a baby lock symphony. It took me 2 years to save the money and when I got it in November I was so happy!!! Its not a $5k machine... but its has everything I wanted and more so that I can grow into it. I looked at the crescendo when I was in ready to buy the symphony and decided that I didn't need the extra bells and whistles that one had to offer at a higher price point. I love love the needle threader, the stadium lighting, auto foot lift, auto thread cutter, all things that I don't know what I did with out
I tell my husband every night as I turn off my machine and clean up my sewing project that my symphony was worth every penny!!!