I have had many machines, 2 Bernina, 2 Viking, 5 Old Singer, Nichi, Royal, Brother, 2 Kenmore, 3 Janome. I have tried them all and have only gotten rid of the Bernina as it had too too much daily cleaning and oiling to keep it quiet, the Viking because it was always having some kind of problem. The Kenmore and Old Singer I gave to a lady who takes care of my mother-in-law to take to Nigeria for her daughter to make clothes for food money for the family, the Nichi to my brother who mends his work clothes, Singer treadle to my daughter in Ellensburg, Singer feather weight on(indefinate) loan to my mother for her new sewing room and my Janome Gem (which I love) to my daughter in Hawaii so she could learn to sew. I have kept my Royal that I use to do upholstered items, my Brother for embroidery, my Janome Heart machine for taking to classes and my Janome 6500 for everyday sewing and quilting. So I guess to make a long story short, JANOME ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!