Which Quilting Machine?

Out of desperation for a dependable machine for quilting at home, I've begun to research my options. I'm looking only at quilting machines - not machines that quilt and a have regular sewing machine features like decorative stitches, nor sit-down mid-arm machines with 16" to 20" harps. Those don't allow walking foot quilting, and most often have a built-in stitch regulator that I wouldn't use.

Last week found me visiting two dealers:

Bernina Sewing Centre in Lake Mary selling Bernina and Janome

 and

Sew Mini Things in Mount Dora selling Juki, Babylock, Elna, and Singer

These dealerships are in Florida.

The two machines I am considering look and behave very much like my Pfaff Grand Quilter.

The two machines I quilted on that day were a Janome 1600 QC at Bernina Sewing Centre, and Juki TL-2010Q at Sew-Mini Things. I tested each machine using my own quilt sandwich of double batting (Quilter's Dream poly request and QD wool), and my Aurifil 50-weight thread.

Features that are the same on both machines

• Lovely stitches - without/don't have a stitch regulator
• Industrial, all metal, high speed:
• Janome 1,600 stitches per minute
• Juki 1,500 stitches per minute
• Speed control: "turtle" to "running rabbit"
• Straight stitch only (no zig-zag)
• Needle up/needle down by pushing a button
• 9" throat (harp)
• Separate bobbin winding (while upper threads and bobbin are threaded)
• Knee lift to lower/raise the presser foot
• Reverse (backstitch) bar, meant to be pressed by one's right forearm
• Left-to-right needle threading
• Automatic needle threader (I never use it)
• Automatic thread cutter (I never use it because a long tweezer/hemostat is needed to capture the bobbin thread and pull it back up)
• Extended sewing machine bed with adjustable surface surround table

The Differences

Different Janome features

• Uses HL-X5 machine needles
• Thread-cutting by pressing a button
• Feed dogs covered by a separate single-hole throat plate
• Price includes only a straight stitch foot. Priced separately: a walking foot, darning foot, and ruler work foot.

Different Juki features

• Uses standard sewing machine needles
• Thread cutting by heel-tapping the foot control
• Feed dogs lowered or raised by moving a switch
• LED lighting
• Price includes a straight stitch foot, two darning (quilting) feet, and a walking foot

What I personally noted:

• Comparing the sound of each machine, as I was quilting... the Janome runs quieter. Since Dan accompanied me to each shop, he's the one who noticed! Having worked in manufacturing for John Deere for more than 30 years, I value his opinion that the Janome is quieter because it may go through a more fitted, tighter manufacturing process.
• The Juki seemed to require more "push" to get the quilt sandwich moving under the needle in spite of the pressure on the presser foot raised to the high position.

I'm reluctant to quote prices because those will change. But I'll say that the two machines are within about $100 of each other even though:

• A Janome purchase means buying three extra feet - walking foot, darning foot, ruler work foot.
• A Juki purchase means buying a ruler work foot.

In either case, I'd want to have the quilting foot "toe" cut out, so it's like the one on my Pfaff, on the left. The foot on the right is the Pfaff ruler work, quarter-inch heel foot. Interestingly, it's possible that both of these feet may fit the Janome! I need to check on that. 

By the way, I'm not considering a Babylock Jane purchase because the price for that machine is considerably higher, though she includes eight sewing machine feet.

Whether I buy a Janome or a Juki may come down to the warranty, and convenience/distance to the dealership. But if you have any input about either machine, I'd love to hear what you have to say. Thanks! Linda