Thank you. I am interested. I am going to test-drive the new Babylock Meridian embroidery machine. The dealer sells Bernina, Babylock, and Brother and she said the Babylock/Brother machines had more advanced features for embroidery.

No. She just made a statement it but I had never heard it before and it didn't make sense to me. I agree with Donna. Stitch quality can be affected by so many things. I've learned that the hard way.

I have had both, embroidery only and combination machines. I personally prefer the combination embroidery/sewing/quilting machine. I actually sold my Brother embroidery stand alone machine. I really think it comes down to personal preference. If you embroidery only, then the embroidery machine is your best. Yet, if you do more like quilting, sewing and embroidery then you may want the combo. There is no difference in the stitching to my knowledge. As I had all three machines running on the same projects and all nice quality stitches. That is with a Janome and a Brother & Babylock running side by side. I think you get more bang with your buck with the combo machines. Just my two cents worth anyway. I love to embroidery but quilt also. Do what works for you.

There are different levels of machines for both stand alone and combo. If a person compared a low end stand alone to a high end combo there probably is a difference.

My dealer sells a lot of embroidery only machines, most are commercial level and they have some really neat options you can't get on a combo machine because of the shape of the machine. The quality is as good or better than the high end combo machines. No idea what hoop size you can go with them.

My new machine is the Solaris and the largest hoop (with the upgrade) is something like 12*16. My embroidery is almost all for enhancing quilts, so I love the big frame. I have a 12' LA, so don't plan on doing any quilting with the Babylock - other than playing with some trapontu possibilities. I do like the quilting motifs to embroider on blocks, but I'll add batting and do the quilting after the full top is assembled.

BTW - my dealer has a really good deal on a lightly used Babylock Destiny right now!

before i took her word for that i'd have to know how many different brands and models of machines she personally compared before coming to that conclusion.

as donna pointed out, comparisons are meaningless unless every condition other than the machines is identical.
they are also meaningless unless the comparisons are drawn between a wide enough range of brands and models, plus between more than one individual machine in each brand/model category. (even the best brands and models will sometimes roll a lemon off the assembly line.)

and i'd want to know how experienced she is in the field of machine embroidery.