The 10 Best Nas For Home Media Server, Tested And Researched
The Rundown
1. Best Of The Best: Synology Diskless 2 bay NAS
Diskless 2-bay NAS from Synology is the perfect way to share files and access private cloud files from any computer or mobile device. Connect to the Diskless 2-bay NAS using your home's WAN connection and access files on Windows, macOS, and Linux computers or mobile devices. Read Review
2. Best Bang For The Buck: BUFFALO LinkStation 2 bay NAS
With its easy-to-use interface and super-fast 2.5GbE transfer speed, you can stream your music and videos with ease. Plus, with self-contained security and file protection, you can reduce the risk of vulnerabilities from 3rd party applications. Read Review
3. Best Performance: TERRAMASTER F5-221 NAS Storage 5Bay
This device is designed to handle even the most demanding workloads with ease. The dual 1GbE LAN ports with 119MB/s read and 118MB/s write each make data transfer a breeze, while the aluminum alloy housing and thermally controlled fan Read Review
4. Best Efficient: Asustor AS3302T NAS
With its affordable price and high performance, you can expand your needed storage easily and effectively. Experience unbelievably smooth video playback that will leave you in awe. The built-in App Central offers over 200+ unique apps that are sure to meet all your needs. Read Review
5. Best Quality: Synology DiskStation DS220+ NAS
With lightning-fast speeds of over 225 MB/s for sequential reading and 192 MB/s for sequential writing, this powerful NAS ensures that your data is always accessible when needed. The DS220+ also offers many features to protect your important files and documents. Read Review
In today’s world, there is an increasing need to find ways to keep our homes connected and fed with all the new media content. This is especially true if you want your home to feel more like a media center rather than just a house with cable TV services. A media server can help you accomplish this by making it possible for you to stream your computer-based media library onto any device in your home that has an available port.
With the right setup and some good recommendations, a home media server can also help you save money and space as well as increase the value of your other electronics. Finding the best NAS for a home media server depends on a lot of different factors. Here are some guidelines that can help you start narrowing down your options so that you can find the best one for your needs.
After 16 hours of research on customer feedback & product specifications, We've come up that the best nas for home media server is Synology Diskless 2 bay NAS. The Synology Diskless 2 bay NAS is a powerful, cost-effective storage solution that lets you access and shares data with any Windows, macOS, and Linux computer or mobile device. It's also Freedom to access private cloud files on the go and back up mobile photos with iOS apps and Android. If you desire extra features not included in this model, you might look into another one: BUFFALO LinkStation 2 bay NAS. It could better suit your needs.
RELATED: Are you looking for the best network attached storage? Check out our guide for the top nas devices to help you store and protect all your data.
Our Top Picks
Integrated media server to support multimedia content streaming. Freely access private cloud files on-the-go and back up mobile photos with iOS and Android apps
24/7 file server for your household to store share and backup personal data
Compatible Drive Type* (See all supported drives)-3.5 inch SATA HDD, 2.5 inch SATA HDD (with optional 2.5 inch Disk Holder), 2.5 inch SATA SSD (with optional 2.5 inch Disk Holder). Note- "Compatible drive type" indicates drives that have been tested to be compatible with Synology products. This term does not indicate the maximum connection speed of each drive bay
Award-winning DiskStation Manager (DSM) brings intuitive operation flow and reduces learning curve
Access and share data with any Windows macOS and Linux computers or mobile devices
4 TB Total capacity – 1 Drive Bay, HDD included.
PURPOSE-BUILT STORAGE WITH DATA SECURITY FOCUS – Storage designed to keep your data safe, the NAS features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
MADE IN JAPAN - Quality Devices.
SUBSCRIPTION-FREE PERSONAL CLOUD – Store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges.
24/7 US-BASED SUPPORT - With 2-year warranty, including hard drives.
HASSLE-FREE INSTALLATION – Hard drive included, and no computer needed for setup. Simply connect the NAS to your router for instant shared network storage for all your devices at the same time. Product is compatible with PC, MacOS, Android, and iOS.
ORGANIZE AND SECURE YOUR DATA – Use NAS as an easy-to-access central storage location. No more searching through different external drives or cloud accounts.
CLOUD INTEGRATION - Sync with Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.
2X AS FAST TRANSFER SPEEDS - 2.5GbE gives you twice as fast transfer speeds as 1GbE without needing special cabling.
SECURELY SHARE FILES WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS – Create individual access of folders to ensure your data remains private while securely share storage space or files with others.
The F5-221 NAS server adopts AES hardware encryption engine to encrypt shared folders and network data transmission to keep data from unauthorized access.
Features an aluminum-alloy shell and intelligent temperature control ultra-quiet fan, good in heat dissipation. The F5-221 NAS enclosure is compatible with 3.5" and 2.5" SATA HDD, 2.5" SATA SSD. For better and stable performance, please use dedicated NAS hard drives.
An ideal Plex server / media server: real-time hardware transcoding of up to two concurrent 4K video streaming.
Advanced Btrfs file system featured in the F5-221 5 bay NAS offers 71,680 system-wide snapshots and 1,024 snapshots per shared folder.
POWERFUL HARDWARE: the F5-221 NAS storage is equipped with Apollo J3355 2.0GHz dual-core CPU, and 2GB of RAM (expandable up to 4GB). Dual 1GbE LAN ports with each reaching at 119MB/s read and 118MB/s write (network failover / Link Aggregation supported).
1 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, doubles the performance of Gigabit class devices. Features Transcode 10-bit 4K H.265 media with hardware decoding enables unbelievably smooth video playback.
3 year warranty. Asustor will repair or replace any unit that is hardware damaged during the 3-year period so you can feel worry free when using any Asustor product
Realtek RTD 1296 Quad Core 1.4 GHz CPU with 2GB DDR4 RAM. Affordable and high performance NAS for home and SOHO users
Compatible with 2.5" or 3.5" SATA SSD/HDD drives up to 36TB (18TB x 2). Expand as much storage as needed with ease
Supports Plex media servers, dozens of backup solutions, cross platform multi-user access, remote access and mobile app. Over 200 unique apps via built-in App Central.
Intel dual-core processor with AES-NI hardware encryption engine; 2 GB DDR4 memory (expandable up to 6 GB)
Average 15% performance boost to photo indexing and other computing-intensive operations, as well as database response time.
Featured dual 1GbE LAN ports to support network failover, and with Link Aggregation enabled, DS220+ provides over 225 MB/s sequential read and 192 MB/s sequential write throughput. Data can be further protected with RAID 1 disk mirroring to prevent sudden drive failure.
Access, share, and sync your data easily across different operating systems and devices.
By default, two camera licenses are installed; extra licenses can be purchased (CLP1, CLP4, or CLP8)
Memory: 4GB DDR4-2933 SO-DIMM (Expandable. max. 16GB)
CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-Core 2.0GHz (burst up 2.90 GHz)
Expansion: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x1
SECURELY SHARE FILES WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS – Create individual access of folders to ensure your data remains private while securely share storage space or files with others.
SMALL OFFICE / HOME OFFICE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.
SECURE YOUR PRECIOUS DATA - Storage designed to keep your data safe, the NAS features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
HASSLE-FREE INSTALLATION – Hard drives included, and no computer needed for setup. Simply connect the NAS to your router for instant shared network storage for all your devices at the same time. Product is compatible with PC, macOS, Android, and iOS.
BACK UP MULTIPLE COMPUTERS & DEVICES – PC backup software included, and you can set up automated backups of data on your computers and mobile devices.
24/7 US-BASED SUPPORT - With 3-year warranty, including hard drives.
DIRECT COPY - Back up your devices via USB. Copy photos/videos/files without a computer.
12 TB Total capacity – 2 Drive Bays ships with RAID 1 (Automatic Backup) = 6 TB usable capacity. Set to RAID 0 to use the full 12 TB.
SUBSCRIPTION-FREE PERSONAL CLOUD – Store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges.
MADE IN JAPAN - Quality Devices.
Features HDMI 2.0a with 10bit 4K hardware decoding, HEVC decoding and VP9 10bit Profile2 decoding for overwhelming 4K HDR Experience
3 year manufacturer warranty
Intel Celeron J4105 Quad core CPU with 4GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 8GB) for power user and enthusiast
DATA RECOVERY SERVICE – Qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award winning support when registered
MADE IN JAPAN - Quality made data storage
FAST DATA TRANSFERS - Native 2.5GbE port for high speeds with no cable upgrade needed
CLOUD INTEGRATION: Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.
PROFESSIONAL GRADE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.
RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: RAID 5 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.
PEACE OF MIND INCLUDED: 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support. (Additional warranty options available.)
REMOTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE - Save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console.
PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DATA PROTECTION: Features 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.
16 TB CAPACITY – 4 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. Ships in RAID 5 for 12 TB usable capacity; can change to RAID 6 for more redundancy, or RAID 0 for full 16 TB.
Hard drives and memory upgrades included separately NOT installed, installation required
Synology DiskStation DS218play mini - compact yet powerful desktop NAS device designed to be an energy efficient, eco-friendly all-around storage solution for multimedia enthusiasts, home use and small businesses
Ports: RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port; 2 x USB 3.0 Port; Memory: 1GB DDR4 Synology RAM; SSD Storage: 2TB (2 x 1TB) SATA III Solid State Drives for Ultra Fast Storage
Easy to use Synology DSM Operating System has a desktop-like layout and features 4K Multimedia Server Capabilities, Desktop and Mobile Device Backup, File Server and Management, Video Station, Audio Station, Photo Station, Easy File Access with QuickConnect
Synology NAS chassis comes in a sealed box
Which Characteristics To Consider On Selecting best nas for home media server For 2024?
To make a practical purchase, you guys need to be aware of best nas for home media server ultimately. Several key factors must be taken into account and evaluated. Of course, there are some challenges for you during the process of studying products. So we are available here to provide you with comprehensive advice and support.
Thanks to the evaluation supported by high technology, we have come up with some significant features for you to go through. Let’s check it below!
RAID
Whatever RAID you choose, however, don’t consider your NAS to be the only backup of your data. If the box just dies, or if something catastrophic happens like a fire, you’ll still lose all your data. To mitigate this you'll want another external backup, preferably to the cloud.
Apps
Transcoding
Ports And Connections
Capacity
If your needs are more modest then a two-bay unit is also handy and won't break the bank.
Form Factor
Ease Of Use
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FAQs
What is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) for Home Media Server?
A NAS (Network Attached Storage) for Home Media Server is a storage device that is attached to a network and used for storing and sharing files on a home network. It can be used for streaming media, backing up data, and providing access to digital content. It is often used for storing digital media such as photos, music, and videos, as well as other types of data.
How do I set up a NAS for Home Media Server?
Setting up a NAS for Home Media Server is relatively straightforward. First, you will need to connect the NAS to your home network. Once the NAS is connected, you will then need to connect any storage devices (such as external hard drives) to the NAS. Then, you can configure the NAS according to your needs. Depending on the model, you may also need to install any additional software that is required for the NAS to function properly.
What type of media can I store on my NAS for Home Media Server?
The type of media that can be stored on a NAS for Home Media Server will depend on the model and its features. Generally, you can store photos, music, movies, and other types of multimedia content. Some NAS models may also support streaming media, such as streaming music or videos from popular services.
What type of devices can I use to access my NAS for Home Media Server?
The devices that can be used to access a NAS for Home Media Server will depend on the model and its features. Generally, you can access the NAS from computers, phones, tablets, and game consoles. Some NAS models may also support streaming media, so you can access the media from other devices, such as smart TVs and streaming devices.
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