Buffalo · NAS buying guide
Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 4TB buying guide
Product facts and dated cost
Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 4TB · Exact identity: LS720D0402B
2 primary bays · 1.3GHz 6-core processor · 2GB RAM · 1 × 2.5GbE · Storage included; additional drives require separate planning
Catalog amount: $395.99 · historical · Price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:00.526352+00:00. Tax and shipping excluded.
Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer.
LinkStation SoHo 720 4TB: specifications and dated store comparison →Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 4TB is a populated 2-bay 2.5GbE file-sharing appliance, not an app NAS. Choose it for a mirrored library that stays comfortably below 2TB. A 2021 LS720D0402B-US sample with 2TB Barracuda Compute drives reached 296.00/188.50 MB/s in RAID 1 CrystalDiskMark (SEQ1M Q8T1, 1GiB). The RAID 1 DiskBench screenshot shows 156.698 MB/s read and 114.183 MB/s write; TweakTown’s article reverses that pair. Current stock drives are not guaranteed to match that sample.
LS720D0402B · 2 bays · 4TB HDDs included · US configuration
This guide covers LS720D0402B, the US 4TB SoHo package with two 2TB HDDs included. We reread Buffalo Americas specifications, the SoHo 700 data sheet, firmware 2.04 notes, the March 2026 LS700 user manual (printed pp. 54, 66–72, 226), KB6060 and warranty terms, and the original TweakTown LS720D0402B-US article (Wayback text plus figures 07/20/21/22/23). PCMag’s LS720D mixed-folder test and Buffalo Japan’s LS720D0402 CrystalDiskMark figures are related, not this SoHo SKU. ChooseCompute has not tested this NAS. See the review evidence ↓
Is it a good fit?
4TB populated shared storage
Drives included, factory RAID 1, and a 2.5GbE port for a small office or household; plan usable space around 2TB.[1][4]
A backup destination
Keep a separate copy. RAID 1 and WebAccess are not backups; Buffalo’s warranty excludes stored data.[1][3]
macOS 26 Time Machine
Buffalo KB6060 (October 13, 2025) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine, but LS700 manual 35022143-13 (March 2026), p.80, says backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26. Confirm support for the installed firmware before relying on this workflow.[2][12]
Key specifications
Full specifications ↗Follow any specification for its full conditions and sources.
Living with it
What matters in everyday use
What the 2.5GbE port actually delivered in 2021
TweakTown’s LS720D0402B-US sample used 2TB Seagate Barracuda Compute drives. RAID 1 CrystalDiskMark 7.0 SEQ1M Q8T1 at 1GiB showed 296.00/188.50 MB/s. RAID 0 CDM on the same tool settings showed 296.25/250.73 MB/s (figure 20; Z: 7/3660GiB). The RAID 1 DiskBench screenshot (figure 23) is 156.698 MB/s read (NAS→PC) and 114.183 MB/s write (PC→NAS); the article text says write 156 / read 114. A 2.5GbE path is required to attempt those rates; current HDDs may differ.[5]
Related 720 numbers that are not this SKU
PCMag tested an LS720D 4TB RAID 1 unit (not the SoHo B suffix) with a 4.9GB mixed folder at 85 MB/s write and 80 MB/s read, and called the bays hot-swappable. The LS700 manual printed p. 226 says this unit does not support hot-swapping. Buffalo Japan lists 271.3/226.0 MB/s CrystalDiskMark 5.12 Sequential Q=32 T=2 2GiB for LS720D0402. Neither result is a measurement of current LS720D0402B stock.[9][8][12]
Check your Mac backup version first
Buffalo KB6060 (October 13, 2025) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine, but LS700 manual 35022143-13 (March 2026), p.80, says backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26. Confirm support for the installed firmware before relying on this workflow.[2][12]
A closed appliance with a defined scope
Documents describe SMB/CIFS, FTP/FTPS, USB backup, WebAccess, DLNA and Dropbox/OneDrive/Azure/Box sync. Firmware 2.02 added SFTP. They do not establish Docker, VMs, NVMe or an app catalog. PCMag made the missing app library the main reason not to buy the non-SoHo LS720D.[1][7][9][12]
What reviewers found
Our buying advice combines official specifications with the original reviews below. We have not tested this product ourselves. Expand a review for its setup, measurements and limitations.
TweakTown
Tyler BernathMar 16, 2021
Observed file-transfer behavior (2021 sample)
On the LS720D0402B-US sample, RAID 1 CDM 7.0 SEQ1M Q8T1 (1GiB) reached 296.00/188.50 MB/s and RAID 0 CDM reached 296.25/250.73 MB/s. The RAID 1 DiskBench screenshot shows 156.698 MB/s read and 114.183 MB/s write; the article reverses those directions.
Read the original reviewTest setup, measurements & limitations
LinkStation SoHo LS720DB NAS Review
Tested: LS720D0402B-US 4TB sample; 2TB Barracuda drives stated by the article; one 2TB Seagate Barracuda Compute tray photographed; factory RAID 1 then RAID 0/1 testing; Windows 10 on Ryzen 7 5800X / X570; 2.5GbE; CrystalDiskMark 7.0 and DiskBench.
Applies to: Exact SoHo 4TB US SKU and capacity. Original Barracuda Compute revision, firmware and network path may differ from current retail stock. Do not transfer the numbers to LS720D0802B or to non-B LS720D.
- The opened 4TB sample used 2TB Seagate Barracuda Compute desktop drives in a tray photo; a second drive identity photo was not independently confirmed.Source location: Gallery image 07; article: “Included in the LinkStation 720, we find 2TB Barracuda drives.”
- RAID 0 CrystalDiskMark 7.0 SEQ1M Q8T1 at 1GiB (3 runs, PEAK) showed 296.25 MB/s read and 250.73 MB/s write on Z: 0% (7/3660GiB).Source location: Figure 20 screenshot (parent-recovered original PNG)
- RAID 1 CrystalDiskMark 7.0 SEQ1M Q8T1 at 1GiB showed 296.00 MB/s read and 188.50 MB/s write on Z: 13% (243/1830GiB).Source location: Figure 22 screenshot
- RAID 1 DiskBench screenshot direction conflicts with the article: first copy Z→C is a READ at 156.698 MB/s; second copy C→Z is a WRITE at 114.183 MB/s. The article says write 156 / read 114.Source location: Figure 23 screenshot vs performance-test paragraphs
- RAID 0 DiskBench of the same 3,758,917,632-byte file: C→Z WRITE 196.858 MB/s, Z→C READ 262.583 MB/s (article agreed with this RAID 0 pair).Source location: Figure 21 screenshot
| Measurement | Result | Conditions & source location |
|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 sequential read / write | 296.25 / 250.73 MB/s | CrystalDiskMark 7.0 x64 PEAK; SEQ1M Q8T1; 1GiB; 3 runs; Z: 7/3660GiB; label RAID0Figure 20 screenshot |
| RAID 1 sequential read / write | 296.00 / 188.50 MB/s | CrystalDiskMark 7.0 x64 PEAK; SEQ1M Q8T1; 1GiB; 3 runs; Z: 243/1830GiBFigure 22 screenshot |
| RAID 1 DiskBench screenshot read / write | 156.698 MB/s read (Z→C) / 114.183 MB/s write (C→Z) | 3,758,917,632-byte file. Article text reverses this pair (write 156 / read 114). Use screenshot directions.Figure 23 screenshot; article performance paragraphs contradict |
| RAID 0 DiskBench write / read | 196.858 / 262.583 MB/s | Same 3,758,917,632-byte file; C→Z write then Z→C readFigure 21 screenshot |
| RAID0 / RAID1 random 4K Q1T1 read and write | RAID0: 13.10 / 13.14 MB/s; RAID1: 13.09 / 13.09 MB/s | Same CDM7 PEAK 3×1GiB screenshots; IOPS/latency rows are alternate units for this run, not independent experiments.Original figures20 and22 |
Limits to keep in mind
- One 2021 sample; Amazon affiliate links present; gift/loan not stated.
- Barracuda Compute desktop HDDs and unknown current-stock firmware.
- Article RAID 1 file-copy directions contradict screenshot 23; both are retained.
- Peak CDM and mixed copies are not isolated platter rates or endurance. No dBA or idle-watt measurement.
Common HDD combinations
Examples ordered by recorded drive unit price, which may be historical or an editorial reference. Check capacity, vendor compatibility, included storage and price evidence before choosing. These are component checks, not compatibility certifications.
- LinkStation SoHo 720 4TB + 2 × WD Red Plus 2TB (WD20EFPX, 2TB each) →
Component total: $705.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:00.526352+00:00 · 4TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:00.526352+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T01:23:41.974420+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- LinkStation SoHo 720 4TB + 2 × IronWolf 4TB (ST4000VN006, 4TB each) →
Component total: $775.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:00.526352+00:00 · 8TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:00.526352+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T03:58:24.994342+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Price observed at the store on the shown date. Confirm the current price and availability at the store. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- LinkStation SoHo 720 4TB + 2 × WD Red Plus 4TB (WD40EFZZ, 4TB each) →
Component total: $785.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:00.526352+00:00 · 8TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:00.526352+00:00; drive price record: 2026-09-27T13:58:17.239646+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
Before you buy
Prices & costs to plan for
Compare the populated package, not an empty chassis
LS720D0402B includes two HDDs. On 2026-09-11 Newegg’s primary box was $395.99 sold by Newegg, Aztek listed $438.56 new with two units available, and CDW showed $488.99 in stock. Add an independent backup target and any 2.5GbE network upgrade.[6][11][10]
Compare stores for this exact model
LS720D0402B · 2 bays · 4TB HDDs included · US configuration Check the total delivered price at the store.
Current price needs checking
Check stores below
4 stores · 0 recent price observations
B&H
Seller not recorded
$395.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 5:24:00 AM UTC[14]
View exact product at B&HAztek Computers
Sold by Aztek Computers
$438.56
Historical price
Stock not confirmed · New
2 bays, 4TB total HDD capacity included (2 x 2TB)
Free shipping shown for this item; confirm destination eligibility and tax at checkout. Smaller reseller; confirm returns, tax and that the carton MPN is LS720D0402B before paying.
Observed Sep 11, 2026, 7:50:00 AM UTC[11]
View exact product at Aztek ComputersCDW
Sold by CDW
$488.99
Historical price
Stock not confirmed · New
2 bays, 4TB NAS server, TAA compliant
CDW stated ships today if ordered; account/login may change quoted freight. Business-oriented retailer; confirm tax-exempt vs consumer checkout.
Observed Sep 11, 2026, 7:46:00 AM UTC[10]
View exact product at CDWNewegg
Sold by antonline
$544.22
Historical price
Stock not confirmed · New
2 bays, 4TB total HDD capacity included (2 x 2TB)
Observed shipping: $0.00
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 1:11:58 AM UTC[13]
View exact product at NeweggPrices are dated observations. Confirm the model, seller, condition, stock and delivered total at the store. Older prices remain visible as history. Links may earn a commission.
Questions before buying
How much of the 4TB can I use?
With two equal disks in RAID 1, plan for about 2TB before formatting and system overhead. RAID 0 exposes more capacity but has no disk-failure tolerance.[1]
Does LS720D0402B support new macOS 26 Time Machine backups?
Buffalo KB6060 (October 13, 2025) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine, but LS700 manual 35022143-13 (March 2026), p.80, says backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26. Confirm support for the installed firmware before relying on this workflow.[2][12]
Is the HDD model supplied in the box guaranteed?
The exact current-stock HDD revision is not guaranteed. TweakTown’s 2021 LS720D0402B-US sample used 2TB Seagate Barracuda Compute desktop drives. That photograph does not establish what a new order contains.[1][5]
Can I add memory, SSD cache or containers later?
No supported upgrade path or container-host workload was established in the cited US documents. Buy this configuration for its documented file and backup functions.[1]
What does the B suffix mean for warranty?
The current Buffalo Americas warranty table lists 3 years for SoHo. Check US seller eligibility and retain proof of purchase.[3]
Does remote access replace a backup?
No. WebAccess provides another way to reach the same stored files. It does not create a separate copy that survives device loss or data deletion.[1]
Does this unit support hot-swapping a failed drive?
No. The March 2026 LS700 user manual (printed p. 226) states the unit does not support hot-swapping. Power the unit down and follow the RAID-mode replacement steps. PCMag’s “hot-swappable” wording for LS720D is not the official procedure.[12]
What firmware should I install?
Buffalo’s current US table lists LS700 firmware 2.04 dated 2026-04-21. Units not yet on 1.98 must install 1.98 first. The 2.04 readme also warns about OneDrive bidirectional-sync deletion races and optional usage telemetry.[1][7]
Does management backup give me ZFS/Btrfs snapshots?
No. Settings can run full, incremental, differential, or management backup jobs with 1–400 (or unlimited) versions. Management backup stores point-in-time copies and can make the destination read-only. The manual does not document a native Btrfs/ZFS snapshot filesystem.[12]
Sources
Research updated Sep 11, 2026. Individual source check dates are listed below. Measurements belong to the named reviewers; tested configurations and software versions may differ from the product you buy.
- [1] Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 official specifications ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Specifications tables → LS720D0402B / LS720D0802B columns; Overview RAID 1; Downloads firmware 2.04 / NAS Navigator 3.1.6
- [2] Buffalo macOS 26 Time Machine compatibility ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · KB6060 → Model Series Compatibility; LS700 fully compatible; article updated 2025-10-13
- [3] Buffalo Americas warranty terms ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Network Storage table → LinkStation 700 SoHo / LS720DB 3-year; Limitations: data not covered
- [4] Buffalo SoHo 720 data sheet ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · PDF page 1 RAID 1 pre-configured; page 2 MODELS / ENVIRONMENTAL & POWER Max 48W / SHIPPING 8.1 x 3.6 x 5 in 5.1 lbs / ACCESSORIES OP-HDxBST-3Y / BOX CONTENTS AC adapter / NovaBACKUP 5 licenses
- [5] LinkStation SoHo LS720DB NAS Review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Live 403; Wayback 2025-06-16 full article; figures 07/21/22/23; meta LS720D0402B-US
- [6] Newegg — LS720D0402B ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Buy box: Sold by Newegg, Shipped by Newegg, $395.99, Add to cart, 4TB (2 x 2TB)
- [7] LS700 Series Firmware Updater 2.04 Windows readme ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Models LS710D, LS720D, LS720DB; 1.98 prerequisite; 2.04 CVE patches and OAuth email; 2.02 SFTP / SMB macOS option
- [8] Buffalo Japan LS720D0402 product page ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · CrystalDiskMark 5.12 Sequential Q=32 T=2 2GiB 271.3 / 226.0 MB/s; RAID 1 factory; hot-swap not supported
- [9] Buffalo LinkStation 720 Review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Live 403; Wayback 2023-12-11 and UK mirror; LS720D 4TB RAID 1 mixed 4.9GB folder 85 MB/s write / 80 MB/s read
- [10] CDW — LS720D0402B ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Title MPN LS720D0402B; $488.99; Availability In Stock; Ships today if ordered; Add to Cart
- [11] Aztek Computers — LS720D0402B ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · schema.org mpn LS720D0402B, NewCondition, $438.56, InStock, seller Aztek Computers; page also shows 2 Available / Condition New
- [12] LinkStation 700 User Manual (35022143-13, March 2026) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Printed pp. 54 USB compatibility footnotes; 66–72 LVM and backup modes; 226 no hot-swap
- [13] Newegg product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · newegg-main-item; sha256:ff802887e3f44f6136f21971954a9beedcb01057a26d2ae8d3570241e5f5923d
- [14] B&H product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:2cb54dbf6ce5ba48c56212f885de9b79a2c3c82b5b4828fadafbb6f9154b6bd3
Research and review record
- Research: Grok 4.6 · Source research and data update
- Self-check: Grok 4.6 · Researcher self-check
- Independent review: GPT-6 (Codex) · Exact SoHo700 specifications and original PDF, dated manual/KB conflict, complete available original TweakTown figures, primary merchant condition and seller.
- Editorial integration: GPT-6 (Codex) · Editorial integration and validation
Independent review completed for the scope recorded in the audit.
Source evidence and review history (JSON)