Functionally - exactly the same through BluOS.
You see 4 x zones which you can select your optical, coax or BluOS streamer via.
There is a shared analog input across the lot.
Only supports wired ethernet (so your AP's need to be in the same network to discover it).
We use the IMS-4 in installs for multi-zone audio streaming
Easy to integrate (as is the Node) into control systems and the app is super intuitive.
Sonic performance wise - 24-bit 192Khz and MQA supported - it's hard to distinguish the DAC.
Like for like into the same amp, you'd struggle to tell the difference in our experience.
The IMS-4 music streamer is the latest addition to our range of superior custom install solutions. Its BluOS™ technology and controller app allow easy access to music libraries, streaming services and voice control using Alexa or Google Assistant. The IMS-4 music streamer’s discreet design...
I am surprised that anyone thinks it is still worth while to do multi-zone by requiring a bunch of audio cable to be routed around a building.
These days I might have thought ethernet with per-room DACs would be far more installation friendly as more likely that may already exist, or at least it is just one cable (+mains).
I am sure this is a great unit, but I could never see myself running audio cables around the various rooms whether they be line level or speaker level audio. Line level may suffer from loss over a long run, speaker level end up being heavy to minimise resistance over a long run etc, and then there is concerns of avoiding runs along with mains cables etc.
I can see how this would be perfect for a commercial install like a shop, restaurant, bar or office where you'd want multiple independent zones, all with separate volume levels and possible music, but still wanted to wire all the speakers back to a single rack that also contained your amps. It would also work great in that kind of environment when using active speakers.
Or even in a home with lots of fixed in-ceiling or on-wall speakers, where by nature everything has to be wired back to a central location anyway. Even if that was just at the per floor level.
I think that if you have a more traditional HiFI setups at home with free standing speakers along with a multichannel AV setup for TV/Movies then as Khazul suggest's it's probably easier to just wire ethernet to each room and put a separate endpoint or streamer in each. This product seems heavily geared towards the install market which is no bad thing.