Help Squad: Best Selling, Best Value Electronics and Appliances of 2014

The combination of 2014 coming to an end and Help Squads unwavering pursuit of the best deals and advice for everyday consumers has resulted in a Best-Of list for you, our cost- and quality- conscious readers. The below-assembled list focuses on household electronics and appliances that offer a combination of the following: a great price point, solid durability, energy efficiency and/or minimal maintenance.

To compile this list, we turned to one of the Chicago areas largest electronics and appliance retailers, Abt Electronics, based in Glenview (with a nationwide sales presence at Abt.com).

Jon Abt, co-president of Abt Electronics, made the following recommendations based upon customer feedback and his companys 2014 product sales.

Media streaming devices Google Chromecast ($35), Apple TV ($95), Roku ($99) Media streaming devices are small boxes that connect to your non-smart TV (a TV that is not Internet-enabled) via the TVs HDMI port for the purpose of accessing Internet-based media content, such as movies, TV shows, music and photos. The way it works is users send their favorite online programming from an app or web site on their smart phone, tablet or laptop to their TVs. Says Jon, These devices provide all the smart for the TV that doesnt have it built-in, and it is a fraction of the price of an actual smart TV.

Samsung LED TVs (example prices: $604 for 40, $690 for 50, $1223 for 60) LED stands for light emitting diode, and LEDs have become the industry standard for flat screen TVs. They are lighter, thinner, produce less heat and use less energy than plasma TVs. And according to Jon, Samsung LED TVs are top sellers because they are long-lasting televisions at a great price point compared with the competition.

Portable Bluetooth speakers Bose ($199-$299), JBL ($50-$250), Beats ($50-$300) These small, battery-operated speakers produce extremely clear, rich sound and connect wirelessly to all Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as smart phones, tablets and MP3 players. Many are no larger than the palm of your hand and have a battery life of up to 14 hours. Other features can include built-in microphones that enable users to answer phone calls and the ability to select tracks and adjust volume from up to 30 feet away. Jons observation is these high quality speakers are available at such a low price point due to this categorys incredibly competitive marketplace. He adds, These speakers produce amazing sound in a very small component.

Nest Learning Thermostat ($249) This is a wi-fi enabled home thermostat that is said to be as easy to install as a light fixture. Following installation, a user answers a few questions, and after a few days of adjusting temperatures up and down, Nest learns the homes heating and cooling schedule. The thermostat even has an auto-away function that knows when everyone has left the house and adjusts the temperature accordingly. Additionally, Nest can be controlled from just about anywhere via a users laptop, tablet or cell phone. Nest is said to be able to reduce a homes heating and cooling bills by up to 20 percent. According to Jon, consumers are moving to this thermostat because, It learns from your schedule, it saves energy when youre away and you can control it from your phone.

Bosch Express Cycle Dishwashers ($594) These dishwashers are the quietest in their class at 50 dBA (decibels), they reduce energy usage by 20 percent, can save up to 280 gallons of water per year compared with other comparable machines and they exceed Energy Star water requirements by 69 percent. Says Jon, These dishwashers are best-sellers because they start at just under $600. They also use the least amount of water compared to other dishwashers and can clean your dishes in half an hour.

Need help? Did a utilities company overcharge you? Did a boutique deny your request for a return? Are you the victim of fraudulent business practices? Is someone just exhibiting bad business behavior? Let Help Squad make the call for you. Send your letters, your complaints, your injustices and your story ideas to HelpSquad@pioneerlocal.com and we will be happy to help you.

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Help Squad: Best Selling, Best Value Electronics and Appliances of 2014