AV Pro Edge ACMX88 Video Matrix with C4??

Where this came from: this question was asked on r/Control4 — not here. We answered it there, in public, and this is that answer.

Matrix is the right call for what you're describing, and I'd skip MoIP too. For a fixed 8x8 that will never grow, HDBaseT is less to go wrong and nothing lands on your switch. And I'm with you on DirecTV. Nothing streaming gives you a real prev-channel button.

The thing that will bite you, and I want to get this out before you spend money: a matrix does not multiply your sources. Two DirecTV boxes means two different channels at a time, full stop, no matter how many TVs are lit. Any third room joining in gets whatever one of those two boxes is already tuned to, and whoever hits guide in the kitchen changes the channel in the den. Moving a show room to room works beautifully. Two people watching different games does not. If that matters in your house, budget a third box now rather than discovering it in week two. Control4 will let anyone grab any source, so people will grab them.

Between the two, I'd take the AVPro Edge. Their tech support actually picks up and they will get on a call about EDID, which is where these installs go sideways. I'd want you to confirm two things on the exact model before ordering: that it does independent per-output scaling, so one 1080p bedroom TV doesn't drag the whole matrix down, and how it handles HDCP per output so a non-2.2 display doesn't blank the rest. Check which ACMX88 you mean, because AVPro sells two: the AC-MX-88 is HDMI-only (18 Gbps, HDCP 2.3, per-output 4K to 1080p downscaling, 29 built-in EDIDs), and the HDBaseT one is the AC-MX-88HDBT (mirrored HDMI and HDBaseT on each output, 4K60 to about 230 ft with AVPro's receiver). For HDBaseT runs to the TVs you want the HDBT. Blustream isn't bad hardware, I just reach for AVPro first.

On the C4 side you're covered: Control4's driver database has certified IP and serial drivers for the AC-MX-88, AC-MX-88X and AC-MX-88HDBT (written by Janus Technology). The HDBT driver's own guide lists output switching, extracted-audio routing and volume, and hot-plug reset; EDID and scaling are set on the matrix itself, not from Control4. Set a DHCP reservation for the matrix on your router while you're at it. "My matrix stopped responding" is very often a new lease after a power cut or a router swap, with the driver still pointed at the old address.

Audio is the part people underestimate with an AVPro audio matrix already in the rack. You need to decide whether the video matrix de-embeds and feeds the audio matrix, or the sources split off before the video matrix. Either works, but Control4 has to be bound so selecting a source routes both paths, and you want to know going in whether you'll be chasing lip sync on the big room. Tell me the model of the audio matrix and I'll tell you which way I'd wire it.

Last thing: there's a Control4 IP driver for DirecTV receivers as well as the IR ones, and IP control kills the "it missed the channel change" problem. The receiver has to allow external control in its own settings; give me the receiver models and I'll check the driver's notes for each.

Happy to look at the rest of it for nothing. Send me your controller model, the OS version you're on, the DirecTV receiver models and the audio matrix model, and I'll tell you what binds natively and what needs a third party driver before you spend anything. Full disclosure, I'm a Control4 and Lutron dealer and I do this work remotely, so take the recommendation with that in mind.