Nas 4k imax enhanced + dolby atmost

[Enquiries]

Hi mate,
I’ve been confused to choose the best nas system to use plex media server to connect to internal devices and outside sometime when needed.
Our TV support Imax Enhanced, Dolby Atmost and HDR+ so all movies sources support too.
Also we’ll upload some backup photos and files as well.

Regards!
Many thanks!
Danny.

[ed]

Hi Danny,

Thanks for reaching out! For your setup, with a focus on Plex Media Server for 4K IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Atmos, HDR+, and some backup needs, here’s my recommendation tailored to your budget and home cinema requirements.

Key Considerations
Hardware for Plex Media Server:

Plex transcoding 4K HDR or Atmos content requires a NAS with powerful hardware, ideally supporting Intel Quick Sync Video (for hardware transcoding) or a discrete GPU.
Direct Play: If your TV and devices can handle native formats (e.g., IMAX Enhanced, Atmos), transcoding is less critical, and network stability becomes more important.
Budget:

A$1500 (including drives) narrows options, but there are capable solutions for high-quality streaming and backup.
NAS Recommendations
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen 2 (AS6704T):

CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 (supports 4K HDR transcoding with Intel Quick Sync).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 16GB).
Drives: 4-bay, giving flexibility for RAID configurations (e.g., RAID 5 for speed and redundancy).
Ports: 2.5GbE for faster local network streaming.
Why it fits:

Great for 4K HDR Plex streaming, and IMAX Enhanced/Dolby Atmos content will likely Direct Play, reducing transcoding demands.
Affordable, leaving room for good drives.
Synology DS923+:

CPU: AMD Ryzen R1600 (no native hardware transcoding).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 10GB).
Drives: 4-bay, ideal for RAID.
Ports: Optional 10GbE upgrade for future-proofing.
Why it fits:

Reliable and user-friendly for photo/file backup and streaming via Plex.
Lacks hardware transcoding but works well if your devices support Direct Play.
QNAP TS-464:

CPU: Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 (hardware transcoding supported).
RAM: 8GB (expandable).
Ports: HDMI 2.0 (optional direct playback) and 2.5GbE.
Why it fits:

Excellent balance of hardware for Plex and multimedia features.
Slightly higher price but still within budget.
Drive Recommendations
For A$1500, I recommend starting with 2 or 3 drives in a RAID configuration:

Drives: Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus (6TB or 8TB per drive).
3 x 6TB in RAID 5 gives ~12TB usable storage with redundancy.
Start with 2 x 8TB drives for ~8TB usable in RAID 1, with room to expand later.
Final Recommendation
For Plex streaming with IMAX Enhanced and Atmos, go with the ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen 2. It’s a well-rounded, budget-friendly choice that handles 4K HDR and Atmos content effectively while supporting future upgrades.