
From the Monitor Audio press release: Today, Monitor Audio is delighted to officially launch its new £1,399 IMS-4 Music Streamer. Featuring BluOS™ technology and Apple AirPlay 2, the IMS-4 is a versatile music streaming solution designed for custom install projects requiring premium sound quality.
BluOS™ technology allows the IMS-4 to stream to four separate zones and its BluOS Controller app offers complete flexibility: streaming from music services, easy access to music libraries and voice control through a smart device.
Accessed through the app, or one of the many supported integrated control systems, multiple IMS-4 Music Streamers can be integrated with other BluOS devices to provide up to 64 zones of music.
Each zone can perform together in perfect sync or play different streams to different zones.
Lossless music can be played at up to 24-bit/192kHz to every room in a home network and, through BluOS, IMS-4 can deliver millions of Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) recordings, which captures and recreates the sound of the original studio performance.
Apple AirPlay 2 provides the IMS-4 with even greater flexibility as Siri allows users to request the track they would like to hear and state the room they would like it to be played in. Like BluOS, Apple AirPlay 2 lets the music be enjoyed separately or in sync throughout the home.
The IMS-4 music streamer’s discreet design (1U of rack space) ensures it can be easily incorporated into any custom installation project. Analogue and digital inputs allow the addition of a cable box or other non-network sources and makes them available in every zone. The IMS-4 even includes a system interrupt to let doorbells and fire alarms be heard.
Monitor Audio recommends that the IMS-4 is partnered with an installation amplifier such as its IA150-8C. Integrated with Crestron, Control4 and RTI, the IMS-4 is compatible with other BluOS enabled devices.
Michael Hedges, Monitor Audio’s technical director, said, ‘The IMS-4 is an exciting new addition to our extensive range of industry-leading custom installation solutions. I am sure our customers will love its ease of installation, flexibility and powerful performance.’
Key Features
• BluOS™ multi-room streaming technology
• With four separate zones, different music can be streamed to four different rooms or areas
• Can be integrated with other BluOS devices to provide up to 64 zones of music
• Allows streaming of lossless music with MQA authentication up to 24-bit/192 kHz
• Integration with home automation services such as Crestron, Control4, RTI and other BluOS™ devices
• BluOS™ Controller app for iOS, Android, MacOS and Windows
• Compatible with Apple AirPlay 2
• Can be partnered with Monitor Audio’s range of Installation Amplifiers
• Includes a system interrupt feature to let doorbells and fire alarms to be heard
• Shallow depth, occupies just 1U rack space
• Monitor Audio’s brand recognition and heritage of quality products
• IMS-4 is covered by Monitor Audio’s standard 5 Year Warranty
IMS-4 Music Streamer Specifications
Supported File Formats | MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MQA, HRA |
Supported Cloud Services | Custom Channels, Sound Machine, QSIC, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Amazon, Qobuz, Napster, Deezer, LiveXLive, Idagio, nugs.net, KKBox, Bugs!, DMH |
Supported Operating Systems | Mobile and Tablet – iOS 9.3 or higher / Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher / Fire OS 5.0 or higher Desktop – Windows 7 SP1 or higher / macOS 10.9 Mavericks or higher |
Free Internet Radio | TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Calm Radio, Radio Paradise, Radio.com |
Integration Partners | Control4, RTI, Crestron, URC, roon |
Audio | |
Rated Distortion | <0.005% |
Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 110 dBA |
Sample Rate | 32 – 192 kHz |
Bit Depth | 16 – 24 |
Connections | |
Input | |
Analogue | RCA Stereo |
S/PDIF | Optical (TOSLINK) |
USB | Type A (for USB memory stick and supported peripherals – FAT 32 formatted) |
+12V Trigger IN | 12 V ±20% |
IR Input | 3.5 mm Jack |
System Interrupt | For doorbell/alarms |
Output | |
Analogue | RCA Stereo x 4 |
S/PDIF | Optical x 4 (TOSLINK) Coaxial x 4 |
+12V Trigger Out | 12 V ±20% |
Network | |
Ethernet/LAN | Ethernet RJ45, GigE |
User Interface | FREE BlusOS Controller App for iOS, Android, Fire OS, Windows and macOS |
Power | Front Panel Button |
General | |
Standby Power | 6 W (Network Standby Mode) |
Dimensions Inc. Feet (H x W x D) | 45 x 438 x 236 mm / 113/16 x 171/4 x 95/16” |
Dimensions with Brackets (H x W x D) | 45 x 482 x 236 mm / 113/16 x 19 x 95/16” |
Weight | 2.8 kg / 6 lb 3 oz |
Note: Installers should allow a minimum clearance of 55 mm for wire/cable management |
For more information email [email protected]
Additional technical details are available at www.monitoraudio.com
Monitor Audio is a wholly British owned and managed loudspeaker designer and manufacturer. Since 1972 it has been at the leading edge of loudspeaker design and technology, perfecting the implementation of metal drivers. It is renowned for exemplary speaker cabinet construction and finish.

By hi-fi+ Staff
More articles from this authorRead Next From News
See all
LOUD & CLEAR EDINBURGH HOSTS ALL THINGS VINYL DAY
- Jan 31, 2025

Atlas Launches Mavros Transpose Speaker Grun Cable
- Nov 07, 2024