Synology DS223j Review: Great for Backups, Not for Plex
Starting at just under $200 for diskless units, the Synology DiskStation DS223j 2-Bay earns a 8.2/10 from aggregated user ratings, but with important caveats. While praised for being compact, quiet, and simple for home backups, reports show it falls short for media transcoding and advanced workloads. Digging into hundreds of user accounts, a clear split emerges between buyers using it for basic cloud-like storage and those expecting heavier performance.
Quick Verdict: Conditional – excellent for basic home NAS use, not ideal for media transcoding or power users.
| Pros (User-Reported) | Cons (User-Reported) |
|---|---|
| Easy DSM setup, intuitive interface | CPU struggles with transcoding high-bitrate video |
| Quiet, compact design fits in small spaces | Limited RAM (1GB) restricts multitasking |
| Reliable backups via Time Machine & Synology Photos | No built-in Wi-Fi, requires Ethernet |
| Supports Btrfs for data integrity | Entry model lacks hardware encryption capabilities |
| Energy efficient, low idle power draw | Extra accessories (2.5" trays) not included |
| Solid build quality with stable uptime | Some noise from hard drive vibration in enclosed spaces |
Claims vs Reality
Marketing emphasizes “compact, quiet, and energy-efficient storage” with “seamless sharing and synchronization.” Users largely confirm the quiet operation—especially with low-RPM drives—but fan noise issues surfaced when placement requires proximity. Reddit user reports show that when positioned in bedrooms, “even on the lowest fan setting, the fan never stops,” contradicting expectations of true low-power silent modes.
Another selling point is “universal access” and app integration. Multiple Yandex.Market reviewers highlighted how Synology Photos enables automatic face recognition and album creation. One buyer praised, “the SSD cache speeds up navigation… face recognition works great.” However, media streaming claims hit reality limits. A Trustpilot reviewer noted the CPU “has no backbone… will not be able to transcode videos without help,” showing performance gaps for Plex usage on devices lacking client-side decoding.
Synology touts “comprehensive data protection with Btrfs.” While some Reddit threads debated support, consensus confirms DS223j includes Btrfs, allowing snapshot rollback. Yet encryption claims falter. A Reddit user in “First and last Synology purchase” uncovered there’s no practical secure volume encryption on this device, pointing out, “if the NAS is stolen, there is no difference to having no encryption at all.”
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across Amazon, Reddit, and Yandex.Market, setup simplicity stood out. A Yandex.Market buyer described: “setup was quick and easy, no need for tech support… mobile app convenient for access from anywhere.” For non-technical households, DSM's guided install and Synology apps made it approachable—one Reddit user with no NAS experience had Time Machine backups “in about five minutes” after following a YouTube tutorial.
Backup reliability for photos drew consistent praise. Russian-language reviewers repeatedly lauded “excellent server for photo and video archive” and “automatic upload from mobile devices.” Energy efficiency and compactness benefit small apartments—Trustpilot reports show it “fits perfectly into tight spaces without compromising functionality.”
Common Complaints
The Realtek RTD1619B ARM CPU is the most common pain point for media server users. A Reddit user trying Plex with Roku devices found “the NAS CPU isn’t powerful enough to play the video,” while PC and phone clients handled direct play fine. Several reports warn power users the DS223j is “good for home use… but doesn’t support hardware encryption,” limiting security-conscious configs.
Noise from mechanical drives and vibration also recurred. A Yandex.Market buyer mitigated resonance in a TV cabinet by placing the NAS “on a pillow filled with bubble wrap to damp vibrations.” Missing Wi-Fi was another frustration for casual users; lack of wireless means Ethernet runs dictate placement, leading some to inconvenient setups.
Divisive Features
Btrfs support was initially misunderstood—some Reddit advice claimed “J models… don’t support Btrfs” but others corrected, showing DS223j does. For light workloads, Btrfs snapshots win praise; for heavy Plex transcoding, performance dips cause dissatisfaction. The same goes for expandability: home users find 2 bays adequate, but enthusiasts criticize the absence of RAM upgrade paths or RAID beyond basic mirroring. One MincoPC review lamented “no RAID support” though DSM actually offers RAID 0/1—likely a misunderstanding rooted in expectations beyond entry-level capabilities.
Trust & Reliability
No scam patterns emerged in Trustpilot-like accounts; most sellers on eBay and Amazon carry high positive feedback. Long-term owners of earlier ARM-based Synology models on Reddit reported “has run Plex fine… for nearly a decade” for direct-play. Reliability is tied to task profile—basic backups rarely strain the hardware.
Durability reports often cite stable operation with UPS integration. A Russian Yandex.Market user noted “works with UPS flawlessly… wakes and sleeps properly.” However, one Reddit buyer cautioned drive compatibility with non-listed models may trigger warnings on higher-end Synology lines, though DS223j tolerated various brands.
Alternatives
The DS223j frequently gets compared to Synology’s plus-series models, especially DS220+. Reddit commenters argued, “get a +, avoid the J models… plus models are overall better devices” due to x86 CPUs and hardware transcoding. Those upgrading from entry-level units like WD My Cloud found DS220+ worth the extra cost for heavier apps.
Outside Synology, QNAP’s TS-451+ offers more RAM and processing power, appealing to VM and multitasking users. However, QNAP’s steeper learning curve and price make DS223j more approachable for new NAS buyers. Western Digital’s My Cloud is cheaper but lacks Synology’s robust software ecosystem—one Reddit user recounted migrating to DS223j after WD’s limited portal access and poor usability.
Price & Value
Market prices show diskless DS223j from ~$194 on eBay to around $596 bundled with drives on Amazon. Community buying tips often recommend pairing with renewed NAS drives to cut cost—Reddit users reported finding “two 12TB Seagate Ironwolf drives… for $100 each with warranty.” Value perception hinges on use case: buyers satisfied with simple backup found price justified, while encryption-focused or transcoding-heavy users felt entry specs weren’t worth it.
Resale activity exists—bidfta auctioned a unit in good condition for ~$76—indicating decent secondary market demand.
FAQ
Q: Does the DS223j support Btrfs?
A: Yes, despite earlier confusion, multiple user reports and Synology specs confirm Btrfs support, enabling snapshots and file self-healing.
Q: Can it transcode Plex videos?
A: Only for lighter formats. Users report it handles 1080p with high CPU load but struggles with 4K or high-bitrate unless clients can direct-play.
Q: Is Wi-Fi built-in?
A: No. All network access is via the Gigabit Ethernet port, so wireless requires an external bridge or adapter.
Q: How noisy is it?
A: With low-RPM drives and normal fan operation, it’s generally quiet. Some hard drive vibration can create hum if the NAS is in an enclosed cabinet.
Q: Can I upgrade RAM?
A: DS223j’s 1GB RAM is non-upgradable, limiting it for multiple concurrent heavy tasks.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a home user needing straightforward, reliable photo/document backups, cloud-like sync, and occasional media streaming on capable clients. Avoid if your priority is heavy Plex transcoding, advanced encryption, or expandable enterprise workloads. Pro tip from Reddit: “Only configure what you need to remove the stress of setting this up—you can always go back and add new apps based on your specific use cases.”
