That is too much for both of those models don't cost that much you can get a crescendo for 3500-4 which has more features so why would you purchase an aria for that much and I think I have seen the janome in the 3k range as well. I would sit down and write down the features you want and are a must for you because the 2 machines mentioned are very different in features, that janome has accufeed, but doesn't have pivoting but the throat plate is easier to come off. The aria has pivoting, the dual feed is not built in but a separate attachment and has a differential feed very different than the janome, you do have to screw off the throat plates, the screen on the aria is nicer to me than the janome. You really have to know what features you want. I would bring quilt sandwich some super thick materials to see how each machine handles bulk, and scraps of difficult fabric you like to sew like minky or silky fabrics, knits. I have the brother version of the unity which has all the features of the crescendo. The aria doesn't have the laser or pen, but 4999 is the MSRP in the crescendo so I wouldn't pay that for the aria or the janome for that matter, but I can tell you my machine has the pivoting feature, love the optional multifunction foot pedal on these machines, not sure if that's available on the janome, it sews through super thick materials(I am talking 10 layers of denim) flawlessly with the dual feed, sews knits beautifully with standard foot.