The new Monitor Audio IMS-4 is an integrated multiroom audio streamer designed specifically for the Custom Install series of products.
Monitor Audio’s new IMS-4 uses BluOS* technology. This allows lossless audio to be streamed to 24 bit/192 kHz quality, including MQA** recordings. In combination with other BluOS products, the device can control four different zones separately, up to a maximum of 64 zones. The IMS-4 is controlled via the BluOS Controller App and is compatible – and can therefore be combined – with other BluOS devices. It also complies with various system control standards such as Crestron, Control4, etc. making system integration easy. With the IMS-4 an installed audio system gets extensive audio stream functionalities, but with the Monitor Audio audio quality’, says the Dutch importer. The Monitor Audio IMS-4 Music Streamer is available as of this month, for an amount of €1500.
BluOS
Monitor Audio decided to adopt the BluOS standard for audio streaming after comparative research. Especially because it has been developed for and by demanding audio enthusiasts. This is because BluOS can wirelessly stream lossless hi-res audio at 24 bit/192kHz without ‘lag’. Lossless hi-res audio can reproduce the full range of recordings mastered from music sources of better quality than ‘CD standard’ (16 bit/44 kHz). The combination of hi-res sources via a music service such as Tidal with the MQA recordings (millions of which are already available) guarantees an unprecedented high playback quality of the audio streams’, we read in the press release concerning the newcomer.
Many connection options
The IMS-4 provides access to 15 music services (such as Tidal, Amazon, etc.) plus 5 Internet radio services as standard and can of course stream all digital music sources from its own network. There are ample connection options: 2 analogue tulip inputs and 1 digital (optical), 4 analogue tulip outputs, 4 digital (coaxial and optical) outputs plus a LAN and a USB connection. The input and output for external 12V triggers, an IR input plus a separate ‘system interrupt’ input, for example for a bell or a fire alarm, make integration into an existing installation system easy. The Monitor Audio IMS-4 has a 5 year warranty. Finally there is the BluOS Controller App, available for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows. Via Apple Airplay 2 and Siri, the IMS-4 can also be operated by voice.
* BluOS: BluOS is an audio platform that enables high-resolution streaming and multi-room functionality for all BluOS products. With BluOS, users can stream existing audio libraries and other sources via WiFi to all speakers throughout the home.
** MQA Master Quality Authenticated: From original master recordings (digital and analog) digital hi-res (up to 24 bit/192kHz) audio files are made. These are compressed for downloading or streaming, but – as Monitor Audio reports – do not have the negative quality effects of ‘normal’ compressed files.