Which do you prefer? I have looked up both of them and they both seem amazing? I just wanted to get some input from other flutists before I purchase one. Thanks.

well, I play a powell.. and I love the instrument, she`s beautiful in every way.
however, the brand in the upper range instruments (10,000 - 20,000$) have shown to have difficulties with their manufacturing. My 20,000$ powell had a key fall off last month, and they had to replace the entire keywork.
Although.. the sound of the instrument is outstanding, and almost worth the trouble it causes. Powells are very touchy. if you get one, it will be worth the money, but you just have to be really careful with it. (might I add that the key falling off was not my fault, rather it had not been soldered on correctly)
I dont know anything about altus, really. You can call up the good people at fluteworld.com and ask them their opinion, they`re very honest people (i am a customer of theirs, and I just love their service.)
best of luck!

"My 20,000$ powell had a key fall off last month, and they had to replace the entire keywork."

Replacing the entire keywork means replacing all the keys on the flute.

That just does not make sense to a repair technician, so I think you got it wrong somewhere.

It is like saying that a wheel fell off your car so you had to replace all the wheels, or a door fell off its hinges, so you had to replace all the doors in the house.

There is indeed SOME inter-relationship between the keys on your flute, but it most certainly does not extend THAT far.

I play an Altus and I like it very much. It has a very nice sound and is pretty easy to play. I play an open-hole, `cause I find that more comfortable than a closed-hole (I play a closed-hole too (Yamaha), but like the Altus more).
My flute cost approx. $2500. I guess it is one of the cheaper Altus models, but still very good.