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Considering first NAS purchase and overwhelmed by the options! Use is multimedia focussed. Started think about this to store FLAC music files. But now also want to digitise and store / play DVD blu-ray collection. Having researched and watched lots of your great videos the option of home surveillance is also a consideration. Just two of us in the household. Want to back up phones / photos etc as well. Also want to be able to access music and movie collection remotely. Considering Ugreen 4 bay dxp4800 (is plus necessary for me?) and the 2 bay qnap and Synology options (264-8g and DS224+). Any pointers gratefully received!
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Thanks for getting in touch — and great to hear you're diving into the world of NAS. It can definitely feel overwhelming at first, but it sounds like you've got a clear idea of your priorities: music and movie storage, photo backups, some light surveillance, and remote access.
With a budget of £400 plus drives, and aiming for at least 8TB+ of usable storage, here’s a quick breakdown of the options you mentioned:
UGREEN DXP4800 vs DXP4800 Plus
The DXP4800 (non-Plus) is already quite capable for media storage and streaming.
The Plus model adds more RAM and a better CPU (N100 vs N95), which helps a bit with multitasking and future-proofing, especially if you’ll run multiple apps (like music server, Plex, and surveillance).
If your use stays light (e.g. two users, streaming 1080p/FLAC, light surveillance), the standard DXP4800 should be enough.
QNAP TS-264-8G
Solid performance, especially with 8GB RAM and hardware video decoding support.
Great for Plex and file serving, and better suited to app-based workflows than Synology at this price.
Supports expansion later if you want to scale up.
Synology DS224+
Best-in-class for backup, photo management, and ease of use.
Slightly less powerful for Plex if you want to transcode media (especially Blu-ray rips).
However, very polished UI and strong mobile backup tools (Synology Photos, Drive, etc.)
What I’d Recommend:
If media playback and remote access are your top priorities:
Go for the QNAP TS-264-8G or UGREEN DXP4800 Plus (if available within your budget).
Either option gives you flexibility, decent processing power, and future app support.
If you want low maintenance, easy photo and phone backups, and a simple UI:
The Synology DS224+ is a great starter NAS — less flashy, but solid and user-friendly.
