I've recently ( well not recently) seriously begun thinking about upgrading my flute in the next 2 to 3 years. Yes that is awhile, but I like to plan my budget out. I'm considering the Powell Signature flute and the Haynes Fusion flute, they're both around $7000, but the Signature is entirely sterling silver, while the Fusion is gold bonded to silver with plated keys. I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge about either of these flutes. I'm thinking about them because both are in a reasonable price range, and have good features for a college student. If anyone has any other models that I should look into please let me know! The only flutes I'm not particularly big on is yamaha just because the mechanism feels funny to me. Much stiffer compared to other brands.

I personally feel as though the Haynes is made better. The mechanism feels tighter and lighter to me. Powell flutes seem to have a heavy mechanism. I was never impressed with the Powell Signature model. The headjoint that comes on it did not have the response I was looking for and harder to play.