I would like to see an HDMI port included in the DS214play because its CPU supports it, although streaming media is the way to go since most homes nowadays have more than one DLNA-compatible device. That aside, this NAS left a very good impression on me. Transfer speeds were fast for its category, the DSM operating system does wonders and can easily be considered one of the best operating systems for NAS servers today, and the DS214play's multimedia-streaming abilities are fantastic since its Evansport CPU even allows HD content to be streamed seamlessly and with minimal CPU usage due to the embedded hardware H264 transcoder. The DS214play also consumes very little energy, which is a tremendous asset for a NAS that will most likely operate around the clock. Its fresh DSM OS even fully supports SSD drives and, more specifically, TRIM and SSD cache; that is, if you have the money to buy large SSDs or your storage needs aren't high. A great feature of modern NAS servers, including those by Synology, surfaces after you take a look at the available applications you can install, since these NAS servers are like small PC systems. These applications create a ton of flexibility, which greatly enhances the NAS's usability. Synology's Package Center delivers as you can choose from a rich variety of applications that cover every user's needs. One of the most interesting is the fresh Surveillance Station 6.1: It transforms the small DS214play into a fully featured NVR (Network Video Recorder) and packs many security features that will meet even the demands of professional security applications. Home users will surely also install Media Server since it allows you to browse and reproduce multimedia files located on the DS214play on DLNA/UPnP devices.

But enough about the many positive aspects of this product as it is now time to mention some of the downsides I spotted. Its price is, for starters, a little higher than that of the direct competition with an HDMI port. I also don't like the fact that both USB 3.0 ports are located at the rear, and I would like it to provide the option to upgrade its RAM total, which would make the DS214play more future proof. Another two minor cons are the lack of numbering on its HDD trays, which I point to in every Synology NAS review because Synology hasn't added any yet, and the inability to format external disks to the NTFS file system. While FAT32 has been included, the much newer NTFS option has not.

To wrap up, it is obvious that you simply can't go wrong if you decide to invest in a Synology product, and today's review is clear proof of this. The DS214play is an excellent NAS, which I would call flawless if it only had an HDMI and a couple audio out/in ports. But not everything in this world is perfect, including the DS214play. Yet I still think that the DS214play is an excellent NAS for use at home, with rich multimedia-streaming capabilities, and it will, according to my multi-client tests, even easily handle the needs of a small office, though its multimedia features would most likely pass by unnoticed in such environments, making the Synology DS214+ a more suitable choice.