Synology NAS advice

[Enquiries]

Hello
I would like to buy a Synology NAS for 4k plex streaming require multiple streams at the same time, file sharing, and Data Storage. I was looking at DS1621xs+ but I think that has been discontinue.
Any other advice would be appreciated.Thank you for your time.

[ed]

Thanks for reaching out. You’re right — the DS1621xs+ has now been discontinued in most regions, and while it was a powerful system with built-in 10GbE and a strong Xeon CPU, there are now a few solid alternatives in your budget that can handle 4K Plex streaming with multiple streams, file sharing, and reliable storage.

Here are a couple of strong options to consider:

1. Synology DS1823xs+
• Successor to the DS1621xs+, with similar business-grade design and features
• Ryzen V1780B CPU (4-core, 3.35GHz) handles multiple 4K streams in Plex — especially direct play
• 8 bays for good storage flexibility and future expansion
• Supports 10GbE (built-in), NVMe cache, and up to 32GB RAM
• DSM still has the best UI for most home users

2. Synology DS925+ (if drive locking is not an issue)
• Smaller footprint, but still offers great performance for home Plex use
• AMD Ryzen R1600 CPU, supports Plex well with multiple users, direct play, and some transcoding
• 2 x M.2 NVMe slots and dual 2.5GbE
• Great choice if you don’t need a built-in 10GbE port

3. Or… QNAP TVS-h674 (Intel Core i5)
• If you’re open to non-Synology, this blows past the 4K Plex requirement
• Full desktop-class CPU with GPU upgrade potential
• Ideal for heavy transcoding, especially if you use Plex Optimize or remote devices
• QNAP’s QTS is more complex than DSM, but much more flexible

Plex Advice: If you’re mostly direct playing 4K media to devices like Apple TV, then any of these options will perform well. If you require transcoding (e.g., for mobile/tablet use or older TVs), the QNAP model or a Synology with a strong CPU is the safer bet.