I am more confused then ever~6600 or Horizon 7700????
 

I know this has been asked and talked about a bunch, but I need help deciding.

I asked my Janome dealer if she would be able to get me the Horizon 7700 for $1999 like a few others here on this board have gotten. She called today to say she would be able to get it. I was elated:D. Then I got to thinking do I really need all the stuff on the 7700???:rolleyes: I like the 11 inch throat, but thats really the only difference I see between the 2. The cost is no big deal but I don't want to pay for things I really am not going to use. I know there are a bunch more stitches on the 7700 that I may not use so I am not taking that into consideration. What options will be valuable to me on the 7700 that the 6600 doesn't have???

Thank again for all your help. Your input is important to me but I know in the end I am the one making the ultimate decision.

If cost is not an issue then I would go with the Horizon just to have the 11 inch throat.
If the throat size is not important to you then go with the 6600 but make sure you get
the table. Makes a big difference.

Edit: More importantly, have you tried the Horizon and the 6600?
If I were you I would test drive them first. Some love Janome and
some hate it for whatever reason. So it's good to test drive
several machines and see which one you like best. When I went to
the dealer I already had the 6600 in mind but I did test drive it
to see if I really like it. Don't just go with the herd. :)
Make sure you have good after sales service too.

Without knowing the cost difference between the two machines, I would choose the 7700 because of the 11" throat because that is what would matter to me Are they discontinuing the 6600? If they are, how long will parts be available? Can your dealer tell you the upgrades in the 7700 as far as the motor and the mechanical stuff, etc. not just the features? When I bought my last machine, DH helped decide on which model because it was more heavy duty, which was the newest model out. Not helping you decide much am I LOL. Good luck and BTW I'm green with envy :-)

Suzy

It's better to grow into a machine than out of a machine. Get the best you can afford.

I guess your the only person that can really decide if the extra money is worth 11" of harp space.

BTW - my dealer offers the 7700 for $1999 AND includes the table, a wheel cart for the machine, and 12 spools of Madera thread. It's possible they even sweetened the deal a little more after the new Janome came out, I haven't looked (lest I be too tempted!).

I would take the 7700 for $2K over the 6600. I own the 6600 and it serves me well but the 7700 is a better machine.

Definitely take a test drive! a long test drive if possible. I love my Janome 6500 and my sister bought the Horizon thinking she would love it. She does now but it took her awhile after going back and forth for classes learning how to use it. We did a class at a big show in Atlanta and they had Pfaff machines and she loved those better! so try it out for sure! I would love the 11" over my 9" throat any day.

Double WOW :eek: you got a super amazing deal!! I have googled the sewing table and can't seem to find one. Can you direct me to a site that has one?? Thanks a bunch.

The price difference is only $400, but I know my Janome dealer would give me the 6600 for $1399.

You have kids, don't you?

If so, consider that the 7700 has a free arm whereas the 6600 does not. When I looked for my machine, that was a deal breaker. I wanted to use it for mending and garment sewing as well. I've used the free arm at least 1/2 dozen times for DS' and DH's mending and pants adjustment.

Good luck making a decision.

You need to try before you buy... :)

Leah Day says that an addition of 2" in throat plate doesn't make THAT much of a difference when quilting. I have a 6600 and I won't ever use 90% of the crap on this machine.Personally, I wish I had spent less and got a different machine---but that's me.One thing the Horizon has ( I think) is the ability to remove part of the bed to sew cuffs and what not. I hem my little boys pants rather often and I miss that feature the most with the Janome 6600.

Why would you think you might not use the features on the 7700..???? Until you have it and experiment with different features you really aren't aware of all the doors that will open for you especially if you are fairley new to sewing.....the 11" throat and the free arm are worth going for the 7700.......good luck......

Horizon, hands down, IMHO. I love the bells and whistles. I too, did not think I "needed" all that fancy stuff, but you know, once you get used to it, you sure miss it when you don't have it (like on my go-to-class machine) It's the same reason I won't buy a car that doesn't have - intermittent wipers, remote lock, automatic transmission, airbags, etc. Once you have 'em........

Some people have complained about the rotating disc selector on the 7700 compared to the push-button selector on the 6600. The 7700 also has a feature where the needle plate adjusts and it becomes a straight needle plate (keeps fabric from being pulled into the feed dogs.) For me it wouldn't matter - Janome and I do not get along. So I agree with those who suggested that you really need to test drive.

The APC (Automatic Plate Converter) is one of the main reasons I bought my 7700, along with the larger harp space, better lighting, and free arm. My dealer also made a point of telling me that with the 7700, you can stitch off the fabric, as in chain stitching, without getting thread snarls. I never had the 6600 so didn't know that was a problem, and haven't heard it elsewhere so don't know about that. Anyway, the 7700 is a great machine and I think it's worth the price difference you quoted.

I've just been making the same choice, and have gone with the 7700 because of the offer on it at the moment. When the prices go up, which I understand they're due to, I'll never be able to afford it again. I've been reading about the 6600, 7700, Pfaff Expressions 4 and Husqvarna 875 for about a year now: my impression is that for quilting, on the whole the 7700 has the most contented owners. I went to test-drive it earlier this week and was convinced that it was worth spending a bit extra to get this machine while I have the chance. I had similar questions to yours - will I ever use a fraction of the facilities on it? - but I think I agree with the person above who said that you don't know what you might want to try in the future! Eight years ago I would have laughed if you'd told me I'd ever make a quilt (or ever want a sewing machine!).

I tried the 7700 and the 6600, as well as a few other machines. For me, the extra bells and whistles in the Horizon did not justify the added cost. I would not buy any new machine without a substantial test run. My machine is very important to me. Janome does a really good job of making a very solid machine. I love having the mid arm. Remember, however, in the long run YOU are the person who needs to be pleased. If you don't like the sales people, don't buy there. A place that does not back their product is a bad bet also. I have been sewing for a long time, but the new owners' class taught me a great deal. Don't short yourself on the decision time or the after market care.

Definitely agree with this. I travelled 40 miles to a different dealership this time, as I've not found the local one supportive. This one is much more customer-focused and helpful, and I'm sure it'll make a tremendous difference. I feel confident that if I have any problems he'll do his best to help.

I have a great dealer, she has bent over backwards to find me the deal for $1999.


I need to call her and see if she has one for me to test drive, Im thinking not. I suspect this is why I can't make up my mind. I am sure she can get one in for me to test drive before I buy. DH has been very helpful telling me I need to get the 7700 over the 6600. He told me not continue to make baby step upgrades and just got for the what I want. Oh, and apparently I need the sewing table as well :) I have been having DH read this thread and someone above mentioned the sewing table and he said to make sure I get one of those as well:thumbup:

Yes this is a major consideration. You will not regret the 7700. My friend has it and I have the 6600 and miss my free arm.

Pink -

Your DH is right. It will probably be a lot more cost effective in the long run to get a more fully-featured machine up front. But you do need to test-drive. I was all ready to buy a Viking 875 until I test drove it. I didn't like the feel of it (personal opinion, everyone!) but the minute I sat down at the 7700, I felt it was a very substantial and strong machine. I'm sure the 6600 would feel much the same. But it's your machine and you have to like its feel.

Just a comment on the Janome table, my - again - personal opinion is that it might be a little inadequate for handling large quilt tops and FMQ. You could butt up other tables but you might want to consider other larger spaces. JMHO.

Cathy

What type of sewing table would you suggest???? I looked at the sew ezi table, but I don't need it portable. Haven't been able to see the Jamone table on line since I can't seem to find it.:rolleyes:

Well...there are a bunch of brands out there. Horn, Koala, Arrow, plus more. Some of the sewing sites have tables so you could look at other brands. I purchased a Horn that was an old model year and saved a bunch. What I like about it is that it has a fold up leaf in back.

But, I think I'm going to eat my words. Here's a picture of the 7700 in its table. I didn't recall that there was so much space to the left. Even though there's no leaf, it would be easy enough to put a fold up table in back when you need the space to FMQ. So...never mind....sorry to gunk up the works.

CMW thanks for the name brands I will go and take a look

I have the Horizon and I bought it primarily for the 11 inch throat space. I've quilted a twin size quilt on it so far and it made a big difference. Much less tugging the bulk through the throat space. $1999.00 is an excellent price!

That's the same (or very similar) table I have for my Janome 6600. I don't think you'll find a table big enough for large quilts unless you have it custom built.
When I'm quilting a large quilt I put one banquet table in front and the ironing
table to the left. Works great.

Look, I've had the 6600 and I have the 7700. The 6600 is just fine and all, but remember too there is no free arm on the 6600, it's really heavy, as is the 7700, but the 6600 isn't that much cheaper that I would get that instead of the 7700. Always get a little more of a machine than you need. I didn't have any luck with my 6600 at all, it ate the fabric all the time when piecing and was a pain in the butt, I traded it in in 8 months for the 7700 and have been happy ever since. I paid full price for my 7700 when it first came out $3,000 with no extras at all, and it was well worth it.

Unlike many others I picked the 6600 over the 7700. My tests showed the 7700 would not sew over a multiseamed intersecting seam, on two different machines at two different dealers. Perhaps the feed dogs needed to be adjusted.
The 6600 had no problem sewing over the same seams. I found the 6600 had no vibration at full speed while the 7700 did have a slight vibration. I thought as did my friend who was with me that the straight stitch was a bit better on the 6600 then on the 7700 and sewed effortless and straighter. I liked the direct number punching of the different stitches better, on the 6600. But that said, I loved the Horizon for so many reasons too. It was not an easy decision.
I had read some bad reviews of trouble with th 7700. Then I read great reveiws. All together it seemed the reviews for the 6600 stated less problems. I dont really understand all of this since it seems the 7700 is definitely a sister of the 6600. But all that being said, if I did not also have another machine with a freearm, and many deco stitches, I would buy the 7700 with the small difference that I tested. Only you can make this decision. They are both beautiful machines. If only we could have as many as we wanted it would be so easy.

Have you tried to do FMQ with the 7700? I did and did not like the results. They kept saying I needed one of the instructors to show me all the adjustments that needed to be done to make it work better....tension etc. If I have to spend a lot of time fussing with a machine to get it to do what it is supposed to do then I didn't want it....TRY IT OUT!!

I bought the 7700 -- I wanted the free arm, the larger harp and the additional lighting. A bonus is that it is MUCH quieter than my 6500. I was not happy with the dial, but have found that I really don't need to use it so I use the touch screen directly. I did have some issues with sewing over multiple seams, but the new foot fixed them. I love the additional flexibility in the adjustment of the stitches. Mine was one of the first 7700's made and I have not had the problems that others have seen.

7700 all the way the space, the lighting, the stitches, I use the buttonhole stitch for applique and bindings and it can be reversed to work any direction. You would love I'm sure. I paid $2995. when it first came out, with no extra's, and its worth every cent.
Good luck with your decision.

I've had the 6600 and the 7700 and love them both. I sold my 6600 once I got comfortable with the 7700. Some of the advantages are the larger harp space (and the extra 2" really make a difference), the free arm, the seam guide, the automatic tension and the FMQ. For FMQ the only thing I have to do is adjust the height of the quilting foot so that it just skims the quilt top. My dealer was not aware of this adjustment (hadn't read the manual?) but it makes a huge difference.

As far as a table goes, I've recently gotten the Aussie by Kangaroo Cabinets, which is part of Arrow Cabinets. I love it! It's got a large quilting extension which folds down as well as room on right where I've got a large Steady Betty for ironing and room on the left where I've got my cutting mat. I don't even have it open all the way. When closed it folds into a nice compact cabinet. Having the machine sit down in the cabinet makes a huge difference for FMQ, as does the quilting extension.

If you still haven't had a test drive, feel free to head down to Ohio and you can play with mine to your heart's content!

Lynda

I'm two weeks into being a 7700 owner and on the whole am very happy. The most important issue for me was free motion quilting, because I didn't have a machine that would do it satisfactorily. So far I've not altered the tension or any other setting on the 7700, have tried various threads and battings, and have perfect stitches front and back. That alone would sell it to me after all the years of struggling with my old machine. The one problem so far is the one that Nanbue mentioned - a reluctance to go over bulky seam intersections - which may mean that the feed dogs need a slight adjustment, but I want to spend more time trying the dual feed foot first to see if that solves it. I can live with it if I can do the FMQ - I have 2 other machines that will sew over anything!
I was originally planning to get the 6600, as I thought the 7700 was out of my price range, but a good offer last month made it just about possible, and given the larger space for quilting, I decided to go for it.

My local dealer did not have a 7700 for me to try b4 I bought it. After much consideration I choose not to get one. I instead purchased a Featherweight 221 and should be here in a few days.:D

If someone is having problems with sewing over bumps and seams you may need to have your feed dogs adjusted that will help with the feed of lumpy fabrics, but apparently it is an issue with this model. I went with the 6600 which is fine with lumpy intersections. Love my 6600. Love the 7700 too. Great machines.