Introduction

We would like to thank QNAP for supplying the review sample.



The TS-453A is a NAS for small or medium-sized businesses or enthusiasts looking for a file-server with multimedia capabilities. QNAP's NAS uses Intel's Celeron N3150 CPU because it's powerful enough and very energy efficient, which is important since a NAS usually operates around the clock. As such, it has to consume very little power and be reliable. Given its low power consumption, it won't add to your electricity bill significantly or produce much heat. Without a lot of heat output, it will also be quiet.

QNAP is a true believer in NAS servers also being capable multimedia players, which has the company equip its high-end offerings with HDMI ports. The TS-453A comes with two HDMI ports since it can play the role of a multimedia player and an independent PC once you've connect all the necessary peripheral devices (keyboard, mouse, and monitor). The QTS 4.21 also makes installing Ubuntu, a Linux distribution, very easy, which transforms the NAS into a fully featured PC. You can install any operating system through Virtualization Station, but QNAP says Ubuntu to be incredibly easy to install because of Linux Station.

Since karaoke is very popular in Asia, QNAP equipped the TS-453A with two 6.3mm dynamic microphone jacks and a 20-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC). This NAS even has an audio line-out port that is controlled by a 24-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC).