Thecus N2520 2-Bay NAS Review

Final Thoughts

Pricing

At the time of publishing the N2560 review, the N2520 (as mentioned in the introduction) was priced at around £230, whilst the N2560 was slightly more expensive (as expected) at around £270. Since then the price of both units has dropped with the N2520 that we have here today no set around £170 in the UK and $180 in the states, whilst the N2560 sits around the £230 / $240.

Overview

To save we writing a number of my thoughts on the N25xx systems (of which I noted in the conclusion of the N2560) , I want to aim my thoughts more at the relative performance that is on offer for the lower price point. As the price of entry level 2-bay systems across the board continues to drop, the ways in which each manufacturer sets their systems apart from the crowd becomes more subtle, with any major benefits resulting in the price jumping up. In this case, the N2520 versus its bigger brother is once again able to deliver a good level of performance for this area of the market. Not surprisingly the speeds experienced are slightly lower than the 60, but what do you expect when you have half the memory and a slightly slower clock speed of a unit that is otherwise identical in every other way.

Around the rest of the system, the inclusion of full media playback capabilities through a HDMI port, with SPDIF audio output ideal for surround sound systems. It is surprising to be honest that the number of entry level systems that are on the market with no direct media playback options is quite large and although the smart TV is slowly becoming a regular sight in the home, it is nice to have an alternative option for situations where their isn’t.

As a sleek looking unit that is aimed for the entry-level user, the N2520 may be a year old now, a bit like the N4800Eco that I looked at not too long ago, but it is still sitting in a strong position with the market, offering up all the basic features that we could ask for for the price. It is simple and to the point, with good looks and good performance for its sub £200 / $200 price tag.

Pros:

• Reduced price since its release last year
• Sleek and simple white design
• Tool-free installation
• Media playback capabilities

Cons:

• No network redundancy

“The N2560 late last year showed us that a budget system doesn’t have to offer sub-par performance or features and now a year on, we can still acknowledge that the N25xx series is still a strong player in the market, with an even more attractive price point for the first-time user.”

Thanks to Thecus for providing us with this review sample.