I want to share my experience with PMS & Synology DS220j. So, DS220j have been around known as entry level NAS that can also work as Plex Media Server (PMS). So yesterday i purchased this thing, and playing around. Surprisingly, the PMS doesn’t work as smooth as i expected. Before, i have PMS installed on my 2019 iMac, and it works very well. So i was expecting the same experience with this new NAS i just purchased, which is Synology DS220j. I was so frustated of how things just not work as it suppose to work.
So i have a tablet device, that i would love to be able to use to stream from the DS220j, as i usually stream from my iMac. But then i realize that the transcoding is a huge problem that won’t let me to stream the movie file on my DS220j to my tablet or mobile devices. Most of my movie files on DS220j can’t be played on my iMac and mobile devices. While VLC works very smoothly streaming movie files from my DS220j.
I already know that DS220j can’t perform well on transcoding. But i thought that was fine since i can just ignore transcoding and just go with direct play. But then i realize i can’t force direct play on PMS. While most my devices need transcoding because (maybe) it access the DS220j through the wireless connection.
I worry because it will be useless then for me to purchase this DS220j. Then after a day exploring and frustating around about the setup, i try to stream from my Android TV. Surprisingly the Android TV can perform fine, since it always do the Direct Play (no need to transcode).
So, okay maybe i can live with it. Everytime i want to stream from DS220j with my tablet, then i’ll just use VLC. Then now i realize, it’s so stupid of me paid for the PMS Lifetime Pass. The transcoding is so frustating. The Free Open Source VLC, works so much better. PMS only winning on the User Interface, while terrible with User Experience.
Depending on how long you’ve had the DS220j, you might be able to exchange it for the DS220+ which does have hardware transcoding support. I am the lead support engineer for Synology products. I will help in any way I can.
It’s okay, as i said, i still can live with it. I just didn’t know that this DS220j would be this bad considering the transcoding. That’s also just how Plex works to transcode.
I spent past few days learning how Plex behave, DS220j behave, and how both behave together. Not perfect but i can still live with it. Maybe later i’ll see if i can upgrade to DS220+.
I saw many people actually hope for a feature to be able to force Direct Play, and not to transcode. Since many people can see, how VLC works perfectly fine without any transcode. So, just maybe if in future Plex have a feature to just Direct Play, maybe my problem will be solved.
I’ll keep my Lifetime Plex Pass and see how Plex improve in future.
That Plex NAS Compatibility table data is interesting. But i think what Plex is selling is a user friendly interface, and even easy to use platform for dummies. I believe most people just hope that Plex can just works without worrying about transcoding what to which. In my whole life, the first time i realize about “transcoding for streaming” is when i use Plex.
Praise the Lord if maybe someday Plex users can stop worrying about transcode.
The NAS model I was referring to is the DSx20+ (Plus series). This is where you’ll find the Intel CPUs which can do hardware transcoding.
ARM cpus cannot.
If this is an option for you, and you’re interested , look over the chart and observe the CPUs. The J3xxx series CPUs are also equally good at hardware and, in many ways, more stable given their maturity. They will still HW transcode 4+ streams of video. You’ll only run into trouble with subtitle burning just like you would with the J4xxx CPUs in the DSx20+ series.
That’s the bane of them – NAS / appliance CPU providing a big service.
If you curate the media (Text subtitle streams - no ‘burning in’) you’ll be fine.
It’s just a learning curve we all have had to pass through.
Yes i have handbrake as well, but transcoding with handbrake takes time. Not a best practice if i have so many files to transcode. I’m happy to keep 1080p files, won’t bother to keep another version of 720p files. Besides, i can stream 1080p files with VLC with no issue. So i’ll just use Plex as media server, while play movie with another client. But as i said, Direct Play 1080p also works on my Android TV, so i still can live with it. Until i can upgrade to the + version of Synology NAS.
After few days of exploring around, now i realize the DS220j actually works fine. It’s just a Plex setting that need to customize and tune up for proper matching metadata at start, and to be patience to let the DS220j to warm-up and get some exercise.
And of course, accept the fact that this DS220j is not well designed for transcoding. But let’s see, maybe after exercising few days, things could be different.
I would love to hear other experience also in using Plex with DS220j, and maybe how is the experience with transcoding in local network.
Unfortunately i can’t exchange this DS220j with another version, since i purchase (maybe) not directly from the official authorized store.
I just figure out fun fact, DS220j can Direct Play very smooth if the video file type is H.264 even on 1080p. No need to transcode, Direct Play very smooth! So, avoid HEVC Main 10 (x265) if you want to be able to Direct Play with DS220j.
Yes, thanks. Sorry did not pay clear attention, i thought when you mention transcoding means to change the resolution to 720p. Back then i haven’t pay attention about file type. So in fact, we can maintain 1080p to Direct Play if the file type is H.264/AAC.
And, i also just notice that different device can offer different result. So for example, Huawei devices can Direct Play H.264, but can’t Direct Play HEVC, while Mi devices can but stuttering a little bit. iOS devices mostly can support Direct Play for HEVC.
I wonder if i can hack the Huawei devices to be able to Direct Play HEVC with Plex.
I’m confused. If the content is direct playable on your device, why doesnt the DS220J just serve up the file?
I too am looking to purchase a synology. All my content direct plays to my apple tv. I was going to get DS220+, but if all my content is direct playable, wouldnt the DS220J be sufficient?
It can direct play, but depends on the device you use to stream. For example, my Huawei Matepad 10.4 can only direct play H264 type of video files. But if i stream with iPad, everything can direct play just fine.
Just make sure your device to stream can direct play from this DS220j, so it won’t hurt the DS220j to transcode.
