The best Nas drives for media streaming do more than storing files. They are way better than traditional hard drives.
They provide personal cloud services as well as media servers. This means they backup data as well as making sure it is safely stored while allowing you to access it from any computer. Needless to say, you will be able to access your files anytime, anywhere.
Network Attached Server drives even work when your main computer is switched off. They are able to do that because they connect directly to your router. Furthermore, these devices allow you to view personal video libraries on your smart TV over your Wi-Fi network.
They do this without having you connecting them to anything. They are also equipped with powerful processors that ensure blazingly fast write and read speeds. Plus they have AES hardware encryption to encrypt data from shared folders and network transmissions. It is because of these reasons we think NAS drives rock.
Also, it is because of these reasons NAS drives are more expensive than your everyday hard drive. This means if you decide to buy one, we bet the last thing you want is to end up with a cheap model. As such, we have dug deeper and found out that the following models are worth your money.
List of The Best Nas Drives For Media Streaming in 2023
10. QNAP 4-Bay Next Gen Personal Cloud NAS (TS-451+-2G-US)
QNAP TS-451+-2G-US works with all streaming devices. It offers a powerful and reliable home to store all your multimedia content. Furthermore, this NAS drive supports offline and hardware transcoding. With it, you will have an amazingly easy time backing up all of your content. You will be able to upload and download files remotely and easily.
TS-451+-2G-US is powered by a 64-bit Intel Celeron quad-core 2.0GHz processor. Moreover, it has dual gigabit LAN ports and 2GB/8GB DDR3L RAM. The RAM is energy-efficient, which is great. The powerful processor and high-performance RAM ensure high write and read speeds of up to 225MB/s with port trunking. Ideally, TS-451+-2G-US can automatically increase the clock rate of the processor from 2.0GHz – 2.42GHz.
Things We Liked
- Great for home and small businesses
- Can be upgraded up to 8GB
- Setup is very easy and streams perfectly
Things We Didn’t Like
- The HDMI features leave a lot to be desired
9. TerraMaster NAS 2-Bay Cloud Storage Intel Dual Core (F2-221)
TerraMaster F2-221 comes equipped with an Intel Apollo J3355 dual-core processor. The processor combines with 2GB RAM to enable F2-221 to work efficiently. The two deliver incredible write speeds of up to 190MB/s and read speeds of up to 200MB/s. The RAM is expandable up to 4GB. F2-221 is also equipped with an AES hardware encryption engine that encrypts network data transmission and shared folders, thereby, keeping it safe from unauthorized access.
The efficiency of this Nas drive is further supported by its thoughtful build quality. It has an aluminum alloy shell that combines forces with an intelligent temperature-control fan to ensure perfect heat dissipation. The fan is ultra-quiet, and, therefore, you will not find it bothersome in any way.
Things We Liked
- Sturdy and seems nicely made
- Arrives well packaged to protect it during shipping
- Comes with an Ethernet cable and a useful screwdriver
Things We Didn’t Like
- The setup is not very simple
8. TerraMaster 2-Bay NAS Quad Core Diskless Media Server (F2-210)
TerraMaster F2-210 supports Plex and Emby media servers. These media servers keep music, videos, and photos well organized, thereby, making sure you are always ready for on-demand streaming to a mobile device, PC, game console, or smart TV. It is compatible with SATA HDD (3.5” and 2.5”) and SATA SSD (2.5”).
The manufacturer recommends that you consider Seagate IronWolfs and WD Reds for stable performance. Heat dissipation technology is included in this Network Attached Storage drive to help extend its lifespan. The technology is ultra-quiet for maximum convenience. What’s more, this drive comes equipped with an ARM v8 quad-core 1.4GHz processor, which, in turn, features a 1GB of RAM. The processor gives write/read speeds of more than 114 MB/s.
Things We Liked
- Fairly easy to set up
- Transferring files is a breeze
- Has both Plex and Docker
- Quality is wonderful for the price
Things We Didn’t Like
- It is not the fastest, but, for the price, you cannot complain
7. BUFFALO 2-Bay 8TB Personal Cloud NAS with Hard Drives
BUFFALO NAS with Hard Drives offers a 2-drive network storage solution, and this makes it ideal both for creative professionals and home office. It gives you a chance to centralize data as well as making sure you can share files among multiple devices. And, as its name suggests, this unit comes with hard drives that allow for usability right out of the box.
What’s more, this NAS drive boasts an incredible transfer speed of up to 400Mbps. It also has a USB port. Well, the transfer speed and USB port work together to allow for 4K video streaming to any device of your choice. The USB port allows you to connect a device with USB port directly to the LinkStation SoHo. By so doing, you will be spared the hassle of having to back up data to a console.
Things We Liked
- Customer support is responsive and helpful
- Fairly compact and has a low-profile design
- The unit is quiet and works fast
Things We Didn’t Like
- Installation is not so straightforward
6. TerraMaster 4-Bay NAS Diskless 1GB RAM Media Server (F4-210)
TerraMaster F4-210 supports Plex, multiple backups, Docker, mobile app, remote access, and cloud drive sync. It also has heat dissipation technology, which is ultra-quiet and does a good job of extending its lifespan. The ARM v8 quad-core 1.4GHz CPU comes equipped with a 1GB RAM. Well, it is worth noting that the RAM is not upgradeable.
Ideally, the processor delivers write/read speeds of over 114 MB/s. This is not the fastest; however, this should not be a concern because this NAS drive is one of the most affordable on the market. There is also hardware encryption for privacy and protection. Seagate IronWolf and WD Red hard drives are recommended. Furthermore, F4-210 is compatible with SATA SSD (2.5”) and SATA HDD (3.5” and 2.5”).
Things We Liked
- A screwdriver is included
- The hard drive is very easy to install
- Appears to be solidly made
Things We Didn’t Like
- The case has a plastic feel, but this is, perhaps, to help with heat dissipation
5. TerraMaster USB3.1 Diskless Type C 5-Bay Hard Drive (D5-300C)
TerraMaster D5-300C is equipped with powerful hardware that has the latest USB3.1 (Gen1) Type-C connector. D5-300C also boasts super fast transfer speed, which can reach up to 410MB/s for SSD or SSHD. Plus it has a low-noise fan and an all-aluminum alloy shell to help with heat dissipation.
What’s more, backing up the data in your Mac with D5-300C is a cakewalk. And that’s because it supports Apple Time Machine. Ideally, D5-300C is perfect for numerous applications, including photo backup, video editing, archival backup, financial records, music libraries, corporate data storage, storage of R&D technical documents, and storage of video surveillance recordings. D5-300C is compatible with 2.5” SATA SSD’s and 3.5” SATA HDD’s.
Things We Liked
- Included instructions are clear
- Works out of the box with Windows, MacOS X, and Linux
- Comes with plenty of tools and screws
- Easy to set up and configure
Things We Didn’t Like
- Supplied cables are extremely short
4. WD Diskless My Cloud 4-Bay Network Attached Storage (EX4100 Series)
With WD EX4100 Series, you will be able to save all your valuable files, music, and photos. Ideally, it allows you to access them regardless of where you are. It is equipped with Marvell ARMADA 388 1.6 GHz dual-core processor plus it has a 2GB DDR3 memory. The powerful processor provides speeds of up to 108MB/s download and up to 114 MB/s upload.
WD EX4100 series also comes equipped with numerous Raid options so you can customize the system with the configuration that best serves you. You can choose Raid 0 for enhanced system performance; Raid 10 for fast performance as well as ultimate data reliability; Raid 5 for data protection and best capacity, or Raid 1 for mirrored data protection.
Things We Liked
- Easy to set up and use
- Software for doing real-time backup f specified folders
- Works right out of the box
Things We Didn’t Like
- The ticking sound can be quite bothersome
3. Asustor | Network Attached Storage + Free exFAT License (AS6404T)
Asustor AS6404T features an Intel Celeron 6th Gen 14nm quad-core processor. It also features overclocking to 2.3GHz plus it boasts an overall performance, which is enhanced by 30-percent more than the previous generations. Having said that, expect this Network Attached Storage to satisfy all of your needs. It is suitable for small business environments.
Furthermore, Asustor AS6404T has a built-in Intel high-definition graphics engine that supports HEVC and VP9 hardware transcoding. With that said, expect the multimedia and image processing performance to be enhanced by 30-percent when you have this NAS drive. Well, such enhanced performance ensures an unrivaled fluid usage experience for prosumers and professionals alike. The 8GB expandable dual-channel memory is another excellent feature of this device.
Things We Liked
- Setup is pretty easy
- Build quality seems solid
- It is worth the price
- Quiet and does not seem to consume much power
Things We Didn’t Like
- Although the setup is easy, it is time-consuming
2. NETGEAR RN42400 4 Bay Diskless NAS
NETGEAR RN42400 is equipped with the latest 64-bit technology, and this enables it to deliver peerless performance. Needless to say, you will be able to get 2 times faster business application when you buy it. This NAS drive also boasts the most effective on-premises data backup solution that helps you protect your data from ransomware.
Furthermore, NETGEAR Insight app is provided to make sure you have an easy time monitoring and maintaining this diskless NAS. It is safe to say that the NAS drive takes convenience to a whole new level. It is versatile and suitable for architects, creative professionals, K-12, and businesses that require large file storage. The NAS drive is equipped with Intel 1.5GHz dual-core processor as well as a 2GB RAM.
Things We Liked
- Runs flawlessly and has an intuitive interface
- The capabilities are amazing
- Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses
Things We Didn’t Like
- Initial setup can be intimidating, especially if you are not tech savvy
1. BUFFALO LinkStation 210 4TB NAS with Hard Drives
BUFFALO LinkStation 210 is compatible with multiple devices, including Apple IOS, Android, Mac, and PC. What’s more, this DLNA-ready NAS device is budget-friendly, and, therefore, perfect for someone looking to make their life convenient yet are on a budget. It comes with a hard drive so you can use it right out of the box.
It also comes with a USB 2.0 port that allows you to increase storage capacity or backup to another device. Well, this helps improve data protection. LinkStation 210 should be connected to a network switch if you are after higher speeds and sharing. It runs on Buffalo’s LinkStation Network Attached Server system. This is great because the system has plenty of valuable features.
Things We Liked
- Easy to set up and works as advertised
- The device appears to be solidly built
- Comes with necessary wires and cords
Things We Didn’t Like
- Not really great for backup of critical data
Guide to Buying the Best NAS Drives
The following factors will help you know more about which NAS devices you should spend money on.
Compatibility
It is important to buy a highly compatible device that works with smart TVs, PC, game consoles, and mobile devices. Such a unit is very versatile and will make your work easier.
Processor
The NAS drive you are about to buy should have a high-performance processor. This is because processors play a crucial role in improving speeds (write and read). Needless to say, a NAS drive with a top-notch processor has wonderful write and read speeds.
Setup, Configuration, and Installation
Installing a NAS drive should not be difficult. In fact, you do not need to be tech savvy to perfectly install your NAS device. With that said, go for a unit that comes with clear instructions and all the hardware and tools needed for setup.
Conclusion
NAS drives for media streaming are perfect for home and businesses. They make life convenient and easy with their versatile performances. Moreover, most of them are easy to set up and use. You can, therefore, own one even if you are not tech savvy.
