01-24-2025, 12:57 PM
Thank you for reaching out! Setting up a music file server to use with Audirvana on your Apple Mac Mini M4 sounds like a fantastic project. Based on your requirements and available hardware, here are my recommendations for a suitable NAS enclosure:
NAS Options
QNAP TS-453E
Price: ~£500
Key Features:
4-bay enclosure for your WD 3.5" drives.
RAID 5 support for redundancy.
Dual 2.5GbE ports for faster network access.
Easy to set up as a music server, and QNAP’s apps are compatible with DLNA, AirPlay, and more.
HDMI output for direct media playback if needed.
Why Choose This? Great balance of performance and cost, ideal for music libraries and compatible with Mac systems.
Synology DS423+
Price: ~£500-£600
Key Features:
4-bay design with RAID 5 support.
Excellent user-friendly DiskStation Manager (DSM) software.
2x 1GbE ports with support for link aggregation (bonding).
Built-in music streaming options compatible with Audirvana.
Why Choose This? Synology is known for its reliability and ease of use, making it a strong contender for a music file server.
Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen2 (AS6704T)
Price: ~£650
Key Features:
4-bay setup with RAID 5 support.
Dual 2.5GbE ports and faster hardware for excellent performance.
Well-suited for high-quality music playback and fast transfers to your Mac Mini.
Why Choose This? Slightly higher-end but future-proofed and great for multimedia tasks.
Setup Considerations
RAID 5 Configuration: Once you set up your drives, RAID 5 will provide both redundancy and storage efficiency. Keep in mind you’ll lose 1 drive’s worth of capacity to redundancy, so your 4x 4TB drives will result in ~12TB usable space.
Music File Streaming: All the above NAS options support DLNA or SMB sharing, which Audirvana can connect to seamlessly over your local network.
Mac Compatibility: Your Sabrent Ethernet to Thunderbolt adapter ensures your Mac Mini can easily communicate with the NAS at gigabit speeds or better.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the easiest option, the Synology DS423+ is perfect due to its intuitive interface and music server features. However, if speed and future-proofing are priorities, the QNAP TS-453E or Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen2 are excellent choices.
NAS Options
QNAP TS-453E
Price: ~£500
Key Features:
4-bay enclosure for your WD 3.5" drives.
RAID 5 support for redundancy.
Dual 2.5GbE ports for faster network access.
Easy to set up as a music server, and QNAP’s apps are compatible with DLNA, AirPlay, and more.
HDMI output for direct media playback if needed.
Why Choose This? Great balance of performance and cost, ideal for music libraries and compatible with Mac systems.
Synology DS423+
Price: ~£500-£600
Key Features:
4-bay design with RAID 5 support.
Excellent user-friendly DiskStation Manager (DSM) software.
2x 1GbE ports with support for link aggregation (bonding).
Built-in music streaming options compatible with Audirvana.
Why Choose This? Synology is known for its reliability and ease of use, making it a strong contender for a music file server.
Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen2 (AS6704T)
Price: ~£650
Key Features:
4-bay setup with RAID 5 support.
Dual 2.5GbE ports and faster hardware for excellent performance.
Well-suited for high-quality music playback and fast transfers to your Mac Mini.
Why Choose This? Slightly higher-end but future-proofed and great for multimedia tasks.
Setup Considerations
RAID 5 Configuration: Once you set up your drives, RAID 5 will provide both redundancy and storage efficiency. Keep in mind you’ll lose 1 drive’s worth of capacity to redundancy, so your 4x 4TB drives will result in ~12TB usable space.
Music File Streaming: All the above NAS options support DLNA or SMB sharing, which Audirvana can connect to seamlessly over your local network.
Mac Compatibility: Your Sabrent Ethernet to Thunderbolt adapter ensures your Mac Mini can easily communicate with the NAS at gigabit speeds or better.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the easiest option, the Synology DS423+ is perfect due to its intuitive interface and music server features. However, if speed and future-proofing are priorities, the QNAP TS-453E or Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen2 are excellent choices.