Conclusion:

The ASUSTOR AS6302T 2-bay NAS server is impressive for a variety of reasons. One, it was very easy to setup, and even if you have never used a NAS server before the guided installation and configuration should make things quite straightforward for you. Once setup, you can dive in to more advanced configuration if you want, or you can just get up and running with how you intend to use the device. While it can definitely handle the backup and sharing of typical documents and multimedia files, the possibilities made available in App Central might have you thinking of an expanded role for your server. With apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Plex, Popcorn Time, and Kodi available in App Central, it is just asking to be dropped in to your media center setup. Also consider that the device has 4K output over HDMI 2.0, it can support IR remotes, and it can have a USB DVD or Blu-Ray drive attached.

In use the device is very quiet, even while leaving the fan controls in the default setting. According to a Seasonic Power Angel monitoring device it never drew more than 15W of electricity, and typically used less than 9W while idling. With some hibernation scheduling, this makes for an extremely energy efficient storage server!



The performance for the NAS server was very good when you focused on the read speeds, as they easily averaged over 100 MBps, and could definitely compete with the higher spec'ed devices the AS6302T was pitted against. The main downside, and really the only thing worth grumbling about regarding the day to day use of the AS6302T is that the write speeds are not the impressive. Averaging under 40 MBps in testing isn't anything to get excited about.

Heading over to Amazon.com finds the AS6302T for about $350 (US). Compared to the Amazon.com prices for similar 2-bay NAS servers from the likes of Synology and QNAP, the AS6302T is perhaps $50 or more higher than these offerings. I haven't used these other 2-bay NAS servers for a direct head-to-head comparison, but would expect that with similar features and specifications between three devices, a $50 price difference could definitely be the final factor when making a buying decision!

In the end, the AS6302T 2-bay NAS server earns the Bigbruin.com "Recommended" award for its flexibility and vast multimedia capabilities.



Pros:

» Easy setup
» Fast read speeds
» Plenty of flexibility in terms of configuration and functionality
» App Central has a wide range of apps to choose from
» Low power consumption
» Multimedia capabilities make it a great choice in a home theater setup
» Three year warranty

Cons:

» Pricey
» Write speeds are mediocre

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