Four independent rooms from one rack chassis
MODEL M4 is an eight-channel, four-zone distribution amplifier with 100 W per channel and four independent HEOS modules.
MODEL M4 is built for centralised installation: eight channels amplify four pairs of loudspeakers in four rooms, each with its own HEOS stream. Claimed output is 100 W per channel; bridge mode creates up to four 200 W channels when one zone needs greater reserve instead of stereo. Rack construction and control facilities belong to an integrator's workflow. This is not simply four MODEL M1 units: it distributes sources, priorities and commands across a whole home.
Key features
- Eight channels at 100 W
- Four zones and four independent HEOS streams
- Bridge mode up to 4x200 W
- Optical and USB inputs for local sources
- 2U rack chassis and integration control
Four genuinely separate listening sessions
One room can play a service, another a local source, and the others can form a group. Four HEOS modules prevent every zone depending on one programme. Names, permissions and scenes require definition in the app and control system.
Eight channels or four bridges
Normal configuration powers four stereo pairs. Bridging combines channels for more output into a compatible speaker while reducing available routes. It is not a casual switch: impedance, wiring and assignment must follow the installation design.
Television audio without a video matrix
Optical inputs can receive sound from televisions or digital distribution. MODEL M4 does not switch HDMI pictures: it brings sound into zones while separate equipment handles video. Dolby Digital assists with compatible television signals.
Rack, heat and maintenance
The 2U format simplifies mounting, but eight power channels generate heat. Ventilation, mains, cable labels and terminal access belong in the cabinet plan. A faulty zone should be diagnosable without dismantling the entire installation.
HEOS as infrastructure
Online services, network music and USB can be selected per zone or grouped. The user sees simple room names; the integrator maintains addresses, updates and a stable network behind them. Ethernet is preferable when one rack serves the whole property.
When several M1 units make sense
MODEL M1 units near speakers shorten power cables and provide local eARC. M4 centralises maintenance, network and amplification. The house architecture, not the sum of watt figures, decides between them. Before buying MODEL M4, check space, network, mains, wiring and compatibility with the rest of the system: the model's specific role matters more than one headline figure.
