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8.60/10
1.
Premium pick:
QNAP TVS-872XT-i5-16G
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9.60/10
2.
Editors choice:
Synology DiskStation DS920+
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9.60/10
3.
Best value:
Synology DiskStation DS220+
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9.20/10
4.
QNAP TS-453D-8G
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9.00/10
5.
Synology DiskStation DS220j
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8.40/10
6.
TerraMaster F2-221
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9.00/10
7.
Asustor AS6602T LockerStor 2
Network-attached storage (NAS) has emerged as one of the top options for setting up a home media server. With the increasing popularity of Plex and Kodi, you can easily set up your own video streaming service for all of your devices in your home network or over the internet.
In addition to home media streaming, you can store and back up data of your whole home in a NAS.
So, to get you started, here are the best NAS devices for your home media server.
The QNAP TVS-872XT-i5-16G is the best media server NAS for most homes. Powered by an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 processor with integrated UHD Graphics 630 and 16GB of RAM, this eight-bay NAS supports 4K media playback and transcoding. There is an HDMI output to connect the NAS directly to your TV.
Onboard, there is a 10Gb Ethernet port to accelerate virtualization platforms and applications and provide faster file transfer speeds. In addition, you’ll find two Gigabit Ethernet ports, dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB 3.2 ports, and an M.2 slot for SSD caching. You can also install a graphics card for more hardware transcoding support.
Unfortunately, all of this does not come cheap. The TVS-872XT-i5-16G is expensive. However, if you want a capable NAS machine for your home that can handle multiple streams of transcoding, then your money is well spent. You get plenty of storage space with eight total bays, ideal for an extensive 4K media library and backing up data from your connected devices.
- A six-core 1.7GHz Processor
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding
- High-speed Thunderbolt 3 interface
- Support for an external GPU
- Brand: QNAP
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8400T
- Memory: 16GB
- Drive Bays: Eight
- Expansion: No
- Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 10Gb Ethernet, 2x Gigabit Ethernet
- Caching: Two M.2 SSD NVMe slots
- OS: QTS 4.4.0 (embedded Linux)
- Powerful Intel Core i5 CPU
- Can handle 4K streaming/transcoding
- High storage capacity
- M.2 slots for SSD caching
- HDMI port for connecting to TV
- Expensive
QNAP TVS-872XT-i5-16G
amazon
// Bottom
The Synology DiskStation DS920+ is one of the best all-around NAS for home media streaming. It’s powered by a quad-core 2GHz processor with 4GB of RAM and has four drive bays that support up to 64TB of storage capacity. There are two USB 3.0 ports, M.2 slots for SSD caching, and an eSATA port to expand the storage capacity with five additional bays.
The DS920+ is suitable for Plex streaming. It supports 1080p video transcoding, allowing you to stream 1080p videos across all your devices. The DS920+ can also handle 4K H.264 video transcodes with hardware-accelerated transcoding; however, Plex Pass is required. You can still stream and transcode 4K content using its native Video Station app if you don’t have Plex Pass.
The unit is excellent for 4K video transcoding, running virtual machines, and more. The only downside is the lack of 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, but the two Gigabit Ethernet ports work just fine in a link-aggregated configuration.
- A quad-core 2GHz processor
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding up to 4K
- Expandable storage
- SSD caching
- Brand: Synology
- CPU: Intel Celeron J4125
- Memory: 4GB
- Drive Bays: Four
- Expansion: Five additional bays via eSATA
- Ports: Dual Gigabit Ethernet, eSATA, 2x USB3.0
- Caching: Two M.2 SSD NVMe slots
- OS: DSM6 (DiskStation Manager)
- Powerful Intel processor and upgradeable RAM
- 4K streaming and transcoding
- Excellent Synology operating system
- No 2.5Gb or 10Gb Ethernet ports
Synology DiskStation DS920+
amazon
// Bottom
The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a great choice if you’re looking for a budget NAS device for your home media server. It’s a two-bay NAS with a dual-core 2GHz processor capable of handling 4K video streaming. The NAS has 2GB of RAM installed, but you can upgrade it to 6GB for smooth and fast performance.
The NAS supports hardware-accelerated transcoding on native and third-party apps like the Plex Media Server. However, while it handles 1080p transcodes without any issues, the DS220+ struggles a little with 4K videos. As a result, we don’t recommend buying it solely for 4K transcoding.
Elsewhere, you’re getting a capable NAS device with up to 32TB storage capacity. It comes with two USB 3.0 ports and two Gigabit Ethernet ports that support Link Aggregation for double the transfer speeds.
- A dual-core 2GHz processor
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding up to 4K
- Two Gigabit Ethernet ports with Link Aggregation
- Brand: Synology
- CPU: Intel Celeron J4025
- Memory: 2GB
- Drive Bays: Two
- Expansion: No
- Ports: Dual Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0
- Caching: No
- OS: DSM6 (DiskStation Manager)
- Affordable
- Can handle 1080p and 4K transcoding
- Excellent Synology operating system
- Up to 32TB storage capacity
- No SSD caching
- No 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
Synology DiskStation DS220+
amazon
// Bottom
The QNAP TS-453D-8G is designed with multimedia users in mind. It has HDMI 2.0 output that allows you to view high-quality 4K content at 60FPS locally on your TV without having to worry about the picture quality or buffering.
The Intel Celeron J4125 processor with integrated HD Graphics 600 fully supports 4K transcoding on the fly for smooth video streaming on multiple devices. In addition to a home media server, the TS-453D-8G is also great at running virtual OS environments, surveillance networks, and backing up data.
The dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports support Link Aggregation for high-speed file sharing and smooth multi-channel streaming. You can also install a 10Gb Ethernet port or an M.2 PCIe card to improve the overall performance of your NAS.
- 4K hardware-accelerated transcoding
- PCIe expansion
- Dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports with Link Aggregation
- HDMI 2.0 (4K @60Hz) output
- Brand: QNAP
- CPU: Intel Celeron J4125
- Memory: 8GB
- Drive Bays: Four
- Expansion: No
- Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 3x USB 2.0, 2x 2.5Gb Ethernet
- Caching: Optional via an M.2 PCIe adapter
- OS: QTS 4.4.2 (embedded Linux)
- 4K video transcoding
- Full Plex transcoding
- 4K at 60Hz HDMI output
- Expandable
- PCIe slots is Gen 2×2
QNAP TS-453D-8G
amazon
// Bottom
The Synology DiskStation DS220j is an excellent alternative to the DiskStation DS220+ if you don’t want to spend as much money on a NAS. It offers most of the features available on the DS220+ for a lot less, making it an excellent consideration for setting up a budget-focused media server.
The DS220j runs Plex without any issues and does a great job streaming 4K content to devices connected to your home network. The included processor is too weak to handle transcoding, but there is a workaround if you still want to stream 4K movies remotely.
You can transcode/convert your 4K media library before uploading it to the NAS, and it will smoothly stream it to any device over the internet.
- Plex streaming
- Gigabit Ethernet connectivity
- Two bays with up to 32TB of storage
- Brand: Synology
- CPU: Realtek RTD1296
- Memory: 512MB
- Drive Bays: Two
- Expansion: No
- Ports: 2x USB 3.0, 1x Gigabit Ethernet
- Caching: No
- OS: DSM6 (DiskStation Manager)
- Cheap and affordable
- 4K streaming
- Excellent Synology software
- Incredible value
- No 1080p or 4K trancoding
- Limited RAM
Synology DiskStation DS220j
amazon
// Bottom
The TerraMaster F2-221 is an entry-level NAS for Plex streaming and home use. It delivers excellent value in a small, compact 2-bay enclosure that can hold up to 32TB of storage. Onboard, two Gigabit Ethernet ports support Link Aggregation for up to 200MB/s speeds and two USB 3.0 ports.
The NAS is powered by an Intel Celeron J3355 processor and 2GB of onboard memory, expandable up to 4GB. It can stream 4K videos without any issues and handle 1080p transcodes just fine. Plex is easy to install, and you can take advantage of the hardware-accelerated transcoding feature on Plex Pass for smooth streaming on different devices.
There aren’t as many features on offer as the Synology NAS. Still, you get full remote access to your files, multiple backup methods, AES hardware encryption, and several small office applications. Overall, this is a great budget NAS suitable for home multimedia entertainment.
- Dual-core 2.0GHz processor
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding
- Btrfs file system and snapshots
- Two Gigabit Ethernet ports with Link Aggregation
- Brand: TerraMaster
- CPU: Intel Celeron J3355
- Memory: 2GB
- Drive Bays: Two
- Expansion: No
- Ports: 2x Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0
- Caching: No
- OS: TOS 4.0 (TerraMaster Operating System)
- Incredible value
- 4K Plex streaming and 1080p transcoding
- Decent transfer speeds
- Upgradable RAM
- No 2.5Gb or 10Gb LAN
TerraMaster F2-221
amazon
// Bottom
The Asustor AS6602T LockerStor 2 might seem a little expensive for a two-bay Networked Attached Storage, especially for a home user. Still, it offers a convenient and useful feature that’s worth the premium price.
The HDMI port at the back allows you to play movies directly on a TV and manage the NAS, browse the web, and more right on the TV without needing a computer.
The AS6602T supports Full HD (1080p) output. It will automatically convert 4K files to 1080p when streaming, thanks to the capable processor with integrated graphics. The NAS also supports 4K hardware transcoding on other third-party apps like the Plex Media Server.
Additionally, the NAS supports advanced features for smooth and faster performance. There are two 2.5Gb LAN ports with Link Aggregation for up to 5Gbps speeds, NVMe caching, and expandable RAM to 8GB. These features come in handy when using the NAS in homes with multiple users.
- Dual M.2 NVMe SSD ports for caching
- Two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports with Link Aggregation
- Hardware accelerated transcoding
- HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60Hz) output
- Brand: Asustor
- CPU: Intel Celeron J4125 2GHz
- Memory: 4GB, upgradeable to 8GB
- Drive Bays: Two
- Expansion: No
- Ports: 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI out, 2x 2.5Gb Ethernet
- Caching: Dual NVMe slots
- OS: Asustor Disk Manager
- 4K transcoding/1080p streaming
- HDMI output useful for device management in-situ
- Faster 5Gbps speeds with Link Aggregation
- Attractive industrial design
- Expensive for a two-bay NAS
Asustor AS6602T LockerStor 2
amazon
// Bottom
FAQ
Q: Can a NAS Be Used as a Media Server?
You can use a NAS as a media server to stream or access your videos, music, and pictures from just about anywhere. Most NAS devices have native apps that allow you to display and play content across different devices.
You can also install a third-party media server such as the Plex on a NAS and enjoy your movies and TV shows at the comfort of your home without the recurring monthly fees.
Q: What Is the Best NAS for a Plex Media Server?
The best NAS for a Plex Media Server allows you to stream content on different devices in your home network or remotely. For the most reliable performance, make sure the NAS has a capable processor to handle streaming and transcoding if some of your devices don’t support 4K movies or have a limited data connection. A NAS with an Intel processor and integrated graphics ticks the boxes for Plex streaming.
Q: Can a Smart TV Access Your NAS?
There are two ways a Smart TV can access a NAS. One using an HDMI output where you connect the NAS directly to your TV via an HDMI cable. If your NAS does not have an HDMI output port, then you can use Wi-Fi or LAN.
Connect the TV and NAS to your home network and install Plex or Kodi client apps (assuming you’re using Plex or Kodi media servers) on your TV to stream content from your NAS. Some NAS offer native client apps such as DS Video in Synology to easily stream content wirelessly.