You need to decide if you want another sewing machine (and boy - what a sewing machine you would get with the Crescendo) or if you want a straight-stich machine. The Tiara is a fabulous quilter. With the Crescendo you get a large throat, the laser, digitizer pen, muv-it foot and an assortment of large fancy quilting stitches. You can negotiate a better lower price for the Crescendo as well. Lucky me, I have both.