I have the Janome 6600 and when I purchased "her", my budget was $1700. I did research online and through consumer reports and decided it was the most dependable machine with the most sought after features for the money. So far I've been pretty satisfied. However, all the complaints about the thread jumping off the take up lever (?) unexpectedly now and then is true. Also, fabric does sometimes get sucked down into the plate hole.

If I could simplify the foot changing screw into a one handed mechanism or put the screw in a more accessible location, I would. Berninas feet are SO much easier to change.

All machines have their "bugs" I'm sure, so I'm not dissatisfied with the 6600. I would recommend you test drive one and see what you think. I also would consider buying a used Bernina 440. It seems lots of quilters on this board love theirs and if you aren't interested in a wider throat for FMQ, that may be the way to go.

Let us know what you choose and Merry Christmas!

I have the 6600 and love it!!! You could pick up one of these used for around $600-700 or new I got in March or April for $1049. If you could come up with an extra $500 the Horizon is an awesome awesome machine!!! I know my dealer had a Christmas special for the machine, tote and a box of thread of $2499.

I have a Babylock Quest Plus, for which I paid $1300 in October. LOVE it! It has a Pfaff-esque dual feed called PDQ, but it seems identical to the IDT. Have a look at it. It has a free-arm, unlike the Janome 6600, but it doesn't have autocut. It has a gajillion needle positions, so you should be able to achieve your perfect 1/4". I think the straight stitch feet and plate still work if it's just one increment off center. If I were buying today, I might go with the Pfaff Smarter C1100Pro (has freearm, autocut, low bobbin alert, 9mm stitch width) avail locally for $1600, or I might just wait for the Babylock Serenade, which is the upgrade of the Quest Plus. I don't know exactly when that's coming out, but it is supposed to have more stitches and maybe autocut. The dual feed on the Quest Plus works with 8 of my 16 feet. I think you should be able to get it for $1000 or less now, and try to get the workbook and the package of 9 extra feet included, there are still some of those out there. It doesn't take all other Babylock and Brother feet, though. My machine is fabulous, I'd only leave it for a bigger throat and MANY more stitches. I'm hooked on IDT now, too. Makes sewing easier and my results better. The Horizon has only 4 feet included that work with the Accufeed, which is wider. The Elna version of that is the 740 excellence, and it comes with only 1 accufeed foot. Dunno if wider is better or worse. Definitely test drive everything you can, bargain HARD, and go with the dealercth

Sorry-iPhone. Go with the dealer you most trust to take care of any problems.

Just FYI, the 6600 and the 7700 do not embroider. They have wonderful decorative stitches, however, and are fantastic for quilting (both machine and decorative stitches). The 5700, is both a sewing and embroidery machine. Some sewers confuse decorative stitching with embroidery.

I have the Baby Lock Elur Plus and really like it. I have upgraded and given my older one to my daughter. Thy are both embroidery machines.

I too think that you can't beat the Pfaff for quilting. You can get the Quilt Expression 4.0 for the money you are willing to spend, and you can't beat it. Take a look on the Pfaff website. It is an awesome machine.
http://pfaffusa.com/19570.html

Read reviews by owners of each machine that you might actually buy. Test drive with samples of fabric you use, even threads, and quilt sandwiches vand if the dealer seems impatient about that, they probably won't be patient with problems after the sale

You can't beat a Pfaff with IDT. I have 2 of them. They are the best machines I have even used. I would go to a dealer though, for your best deals and customer support.

I love my Janome it has a wider neck for fitting the fabric thru and it just does a great job quilting.