Love my Berninas, have 2 and wouldn't trade them for anything else. Have tried to help friends with Phaff and Baby Lock neither one are for me. I also think a GOOD dealer is what you need to look for first. If you have a bad one, no machine will be good.

Well, I have a Janome 9000, a Babylock Ellageo and a Babylock Sofia, and a Brother PE 770 - bought in that order and purchased over the last 20 years. They ALL still run well and they are all easy to operate as long as you read the manuals and take your time and practice and keep your laptop by your side for help from YOUTUBE and this board (grin).. Got the Janome in 1995. Moved up to the Ellageo in 2001 for a larger embroidery field. The Sofia is a lightweight machine to take to classes. The PE 770 was purchased just last January so I could use a USF flash drive to transfer embroidery designs (and because I was feeling sorry for myself after a health issue arose. Over those years I have learned that dealer support is important but not required. My Brother PE 770 was bought over the web. I did take training classes for my first one - the Janome, but my Babylock dealer was not all that helpful - except to sell! Why do I keep all the machines? Because my dealer would not make decent trade-in offers, and I would not give them away to them. I would rather at some point donate them to people who would really appreciate them. The other important thing to consider is that the Bernina is fairly proprietary in its software, accessories, etc. and pretty pricey. But I am sure it is also a good machine. So I agree with everyone else - go try them all out and see what feels good to you AND THEN GO FOR IT!

Look at the Brother & Babylock machines also (my favorites!!) but then go with the machine that calls your name and a dealer where you are comfortable. Everyone has different tastes and different things appeal to them. All the ones you mentioned are very good, so it depends on the vibes you get from them.
But if you do like Disney Brother is the only one authorized to sew Disney (not all models, just the ones with a "D" in the model name). In my case I love Disney and have several grandchilren who also love Disney so that was a no brainer for me.

Thank you all

Love my Viking Ruby! I enjoy embroidering on it and love all the bells and whistles when I am just sewing. I do have a back up machine that I can sew on, if I want to have some embroidery going at the same time. (like a few days before Christmas). I have played with a Brother...loved the Disney embroidery but it only had a small hoop and I just couldn't justify the expense (800+) just to have Disney embroidery.

I agree with maryb119 100%. I love my Pfaff. I have the Creative Sensation and it is not only a wonderful embroidery machine, but also a fantastic sewing machine, with all the bells and whistles. I also have a Pfaff Passport to sew on when my CS is doing embroidery. While the Passport does not have all the bells and whistles, it does have the ones that are really important, like the duel feed, needle down, and lots of stitches.

I had a Pfaff. Didn't like it. Constant problems. Then I got a Bernina 730, slightly used. I love this machine. I only wish the hoop size was bigger.

I just got a Bernina350PE from LQS. It's an awesome machine which fits my needs right now. I went with the Bernina b/c the serviceman there is top notch, has Bernina training. Years ago I purchase a reconditioned Babtylock Esante, but I was new to sewing and never got interested in the embroidery. I sold that fantastic machine and it's still going strong and used regularly.
If I ever got interested in embroidery I would look into an embroidery machine, doing research and taking into account all the invaluable info I get from you all on this Board! Happy New Year!

I have 3 Janomes. I continue to buy them because the price is reasonable, the machines work like a dream, comes with many feet and the dealer is super knowledgeable. Good luck shopping for yours.

I have The 730e Artista. She is a work horse and very easy to go from embroidery to sewing. I have had her about 10 years. I also have a 930 that is 25 years old. The 730 stays set up for embroidery most of the time. I can sew on one while the other is doing its embroidery. I do wish I had a wider embroidery space. I let my grandchildren sew on both machines. They are easy to operate.