Buffalo Terastation review

Buffalo's TeraStation Live Network Attached Storage (NAS) box has one terabyte of hard-disk capacity - that's over 1000GB, enough for 3000 Apple Lossl Tested at £430

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Awesome! If you use a computer to store your music or movies (or both), you should check this one out

Pros

  • +

    Immense storage means better sound and vision for your digital media

  • +

    easy to use

  • +

    quiet

  • +

    small

  • +

    affordable

Cons

  • -

    Nothing

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

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If you've got digital music on your computer, chances are you've made a trade-off over recording quality. If you've chosen the audio-first route, you'll be using Apple Lossless (or an uncompressed rival), which offers the best sound, at the expense of hard-disk space.

However, if your computer's storage capacity is more modest, you'll probably have opted for a more compressed option, such as 320kbps MP3, hoping to trade a little quality for a lot more music.

With Buffalo's TeraStation Live Network Attached Storage (NAS) box in your system, such compromises are irrelevant. Not when you've got one terabyte of hard-disk capacity to hand - that's over 1000GB, enough for 3000 Apple Lossless albums.

And that can make a big difference to your listening enjoyment: through our reference hi-fi, the Buffalo's better-quality music files clearly sound more spacious, open and musical.

Installation is simple. Hook it into your network using an Ethernet cable (it talks to both PCs and Macs), and it's ready to go.

Effective and easy to use

Some of you might be saying, "But I can buy huge hard-disk storage like that for less cash?" True - but a simple external disk drive can't begin to rival the Buffalo's flexibility, not least because you don't have to turn on your computer to access its content. Its size and near-silent operation also make it living-room friendly.

The TeraStation Live also supports iTunes, making music transfer a doddle, and even complies with the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) spec, allowing it to store videos, photos and music for replay on any suitable DLNA device. Amazingly, you can even remotely access its content, via Buffalo's website, www.buffaloNAS.com.

The TeraStation Live is a great device. It means anyone with an interest in storing digital music or video can enjoy much better quality. If that doesn't qualify it for inclusion in this mag, what does?

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test