diff --git a/posix/include/rtos/alloc.h b/posix/include/rtos/alloc.h
index ad82b74d6ce7..294b27eaee9b 100644
--- a/posix/include/rtos/alloc.h
+++ b/posix/include/rtos/alloc.h
@@ -51,29 +51,20 @@
 
 /**
  * Allocates memory block.
- * @param zone Zone to allocate memory from, see enum mem_zone.
  * @param flags Flags, see SOF_MEM_FLAG_...
- * @param caps Capabilities, see SOF_MEM_CAPS_...
  * @param bytes Size in bytes.
  * @return Pointer to the allocated memory or NULL if failed.
- *
- * @note Do not use for buffers (SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER zone).
- *       Use rballoc(), rballoc_align() to allocate memory for buffers.
  */
 void *rmalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes);
 
 /**
  * Similar to rmalloc(), guarantees that returned block is zeroed.
- *
- * @note Do not use  for buffers (SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER zone).
- *       rballoc(), rballoc_align() to allocate memory for buffers.
  */
 void *rzalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes);
 
 /**
- * Allocates memory block from SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER.
+ * Allocates memory block.
  * @param flags Flags, see SOF_MEM_FLAG_...
- * @param caps Capabilities, see SOF_MEM_CAPS_...
  * @param bytes Size in bytes.
  * @param alignment Alignment in bytes.
  * @return Pointer to the allocated memory or NULL if failed.
@@ -90,10 +81,9 @@ static inline void *rballoc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes)
 }
 
 /**
- * Changes size of the memory block allocated from SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER.
+ * Changes size of the memory block allocated.
  * @param ptr Address of the block to resize.
  * @param flags Flags, see SOF_MEM_FLAG_...
- * @param caps Capabilities, see SOF_MEM_CAPS_...
  * @param bytes New size in bytes.
  * @param old_bytes Old size in bytes.
  * @param alignment Alignment in bytes.
@@ -116,9 +106,6 @@ static inline void *rbrealloc(void *ptr, uint32_t flags,
 /**
  * Frees the memory block.
  * @param ptr Pointer to the memory block.
- *
- * @note Blocks from SOF_MEM_ZONE_SYS cannot be freed, such a call causes
- *       panic.
  */
 void rfree(void *ptr);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/buffers/comp_buffer.c b/src/audio/buffers/comp_buffer.c
index 8ed862ac8e29..454f5f0a49e3 100644
--- a/src/audio/buffers/comp_buffer.c
+++ b/src/audio/buffers/comp_buffer.c
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ int buffer_set_size(struct comp_buffer *buffer, uint32_t size, uint32_t alignmen
 					  audio_stream_get_size(&buffer->stream), alignment);
 	/* we couldn't allocate bigger chunk */
 	if (!new_ptr && size > audio_stream_get_size(&buffer->stream)) {
-		buf_err(buffer, "resize can't alloc %u bytes type 0x%x",
+		buf_err(buffer, "resize can't alloc %u bytes of flags 0x%x",
 			audio_stream_get_size(&buffer->stream), buffer->flags);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
@@ -388,7 +388,8 @@ int buffer_set_size_range(struct comp_buffer *buffer, size_t preferred_size, siz
 
 	/* we couldn't allocate bigger chunk */
 	if (!new_ptr && new_size > actual_size) {
-		buf_err(buffer, "resize can't alloc %zu bytes type 0x%x", new_size, buffer->flags);
+		buf_err(buffer, "resize can't alloc %zu bytes of flags 0x%x", new_size,
+			buffer->flags);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/audio/google/google_rtc_audio_processing_mock.c b/src/audio/google/google_rtc_audio_processing_mock.c
index 77b390452205..b931c3a85c7a 100644
--- a/src/audio/google/google_rtc_audio_processing_mock.c
+++ b/src/audio/google/google_rtc_audio_processing_mock.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ struct GoogleRtcAudioProcessingState {
 	float *aec_reference;
 };
 
-static void SetFormats(GoogleRtcAudioProcessingState *const state,
+static int SetFormats(GoogleRtcAudioProcessingState *const state,
 		       int capture_sample_rate_hz,
 		       int num_capture_input_channels,
 		       int num_capture_output_channels,
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ static void SetFormats(GoogleRtcAudioProcessingState *const state,
 				       sizeof(state->aec_reference[0]) *
 				       state->num_frames *
 				       state->num_aec_reference_channels);
+	if (!state->aec_reference)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void GoogleRtcAudioProcessingAttachMemoryBuffer(uint8_t *const buffer,
@@ -64,20 +67,21 @@ GoogleRtcAudioProcessingState *GoogleRtcAudioProcessingCreateWithConfig(int capt
 									const uint8_t *const config,
 									int config_size)
 {
+	int err;
 	struct GoogleRtcAudioProcessingState *s =
 		rballoc(SOF_MEM_FLAG_USER, sizeof(GoogleRtcAudioProcessingState));
 	if (!s)
 		return NULL;
 
 	s->aec_reference = NULL;
-	SetFormats(s,
+	err = SetFormats(s,
 		   capture_sample_rate_hz,
 		   num_capture_input_channels,
 		   num_capture_output_channels,
 		   render_sample_rate_hz,
 		   num_render_channels);
 
-	if (!s->aec_reference) {
+	if (err) {
 		rfree(s);
 		return NULL;
 	}
diff --git a/src/include/sof/audio/component.h b/src/include/sof/audio/component.h
index a768dd93a3a6..ef2c0fac108a 100644
--- a/src/include/sof/audio/component.h
+++ b/src/include/sof/audio/component.h
@@ -321,8 +321,6 @@ struct comp_ops {
 	 * @param spec Pointer to initialization data
 	 * @return Pointer to the new component device.
 	 *
-	 * All required data objects should be allocated from the run-time
-	 * heap (SOF_MEM_ZONE_RUNTIME).
 	 * Any component-specific private data is allocated separately and
 	 * pointer is connected to the comp_dev::private by using
 	 * comp_set_drvdata() and later retrieved by comp_get_drvdata().
diff --git a/src/include/sof/lib/dai-legacy.h b/src/include/sof/lib/dai-legacy.h
index 9408b6c27414..44142412334b 100644
--- a/src/include/sof/lib/dai-legacy.h
+++ b/src/include/sof/lib/dai-legacy.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ struct sof_ipc_stream_params;
  * If a single DAI instance can have multiple DMA links and/or there is
  * some other possibility of the same instance being used in multiple
  * contexts at the same time, the private data should be allocated in the
- * SOF_MEM_ZONE_SHARED.
+ * SOF_MEM_FLAG_COHERENT.
  */
 struct dai_ops {
 	int (*set_config)(struct dai *dai, struct ipc_config_dai *config,
diff --git a/src/platform/ace30/include/platform/lib/memory.h b/src/platform/ace30/include/platform/lib/memory.h
index 8fa1f1229a59..70888798e22a 100644
--- a/src/platform/ace30/include/platform/lib/memory.h
+++ b/src/platform/ace30/include/platform/lib/memory.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 /**
  * size of HPSRAM system heap
  */
-#define HEAPMEM_SIZE 0xD0000
+#define HEAPMEM_SIZE CONFIG_SOF_ZEPHYR_HEAP_SIZE
 
 #if CONFIG_COLD_STORE_EXECUTE_DRAM && \
 	(CONFIG_LLEXT_TYPE_ELF_RELOCATABLE || !defined(LL_EXTENSION_BUILD))
diff --git a/src/platform/lunarlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h b/src/platform/lunarlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h
index b5bda0ede464..276c61d17d58 100644
--- a/src/platform/lunarlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h
+++ b/src/platform/lunarlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 /**
  * size of HPSRAM system heap
  */
-#define HEAPMEM_SIZE 0xF0000
+#define HEAPMEM_SIZE CONFIG_SOF_ZEPHYR_HEAP_SIZE
 
 #if CONFIG_COLD_STORE_EXECUTE_DRAM && \
 	(CONFIG_LLEXT_TYPE_ELF_RELOCATABLE || !defined(LL_EXTENSION_BUILD))
diff --git a/src/platform/meteorlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h b/src/platform/meteorlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h
index 76b60f98fabb..cd279b603c64 100644
--- a/src/platform/meteorlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h
+++ b/src/platform/meteorlake/include/platform/lib/memory.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 /**
  * size of HPSRAM system heap
  */
-#define HEAPMEM_SIZE 0xF0000
+#define HEAPMEM_SIZE CONFIG_SOF_ZEPHYR_HEAP_SIZE
 
 #if CONFIG_COLD_STORE_EXECUTE_DRAM && \
 	(CONFIG_LLEXT_TYPE_ELF_RELOCATABLE || !defined(LL_EXTENSION_BUILD))
diff --git a/src/probe/probe.c b/src/probe/probe.c
index 5c75eae8210b..6421d4b473c3 100644
--- a/src/probe/probe.c
+++ b/src/probe/probe.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static int probe_dma_init(struct probe_dma_ext *dma, uint32_t direction)
 	dma->config.dest_width = sizeof(uint32_t);
 	dma->config.cyclic = 0;
 
-	err = dma_sg_alloc(&dma->config.elem_array, SOF_MEM_ZONE_RUNTIME,
+	err = dma_sg_alloc(&dma->config.elem_array, SOF_MEM_FLAG_USER,
 			   dma->config.direction, elem_num, elem_size, elem_addr, 0);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
diff --git a/src/trace/dma-trace.c b/src/trace/dma-trace.c
index 82f3cbd1e46f..f30007a89b6b 100644
--- a/src/trace/dma-trace.c
+++ b/src/trace/dma-trace.c
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ static int dma_trace_buffer_init(struct dma_trace_data *d)
 	config->dest_width = sizeof(uint32_t);
 	config->cyclic = 0;
 
-	ret = dma_sg_alloc(&config->elem_array, SOF_MEM_ZONE_SYS,
+	ret = dma_sg_alloc(&config->elem_array, SOF_MEM_FLAG_USER,
 			   config->direction, elem_num, elem_size,
 			   elem_addr, 0);
 	if (ret < 0) {
diff --git a/zephyr/Kconfig b/zephyr/Kconfig
index 983c0f13c71c..d29ad00ad180 100644
--- a/zephyr/Kconfig
+++ b/zephyr/Kconfig
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ config SOF_STAGING
 
 rsource "../Kconfig.sof"
 
+config SOF_USERSPACE
+	bool "Enable SOF support for userspace modules"
+	default n
+	help
+	  SOF userspace modules support will enable modules to run in DP
+	  processing mode as userspace code and data. This feature is WIP
+	  and is not yet ready for production, for developers only.
+
 config SOF_ZEPHYR_HEAP_CACHED
 	bool "Cached Zephyr heap for SOF memory non-shared zones"
 	default y if CAVS || ACE
@@ -19,6 +27,29 @@ config SOF_ZEPHYR_HEAP_CACHED
 	  Enable cached heap by mapping cached SOF memory zones to different
 	  Zephyr sys_heap objects and enable caching for non-shared zones.
 
+config SOF_ZEPHYR_HEAP_SIZE
+	hex "Size of the Zephyr heap for SOF"
+	default 0xF0000 if SOC_INTEL_ACE15_MTPM || SOC_INTEL_ACE20_LNL
+	default 0xD0000 if SOC_INTEL_ACE30
+	default 0x0
+	help
+	 Support scaling of the heap size for different platforms and different types
+	 of heaps. This is the default heap size for most users.
+	 TODO: Currently this setting is only available on platforms with a
+	 simplified heap size configuration. i.e. a single macro that defines the
+	 heap size. This is not the case for all platforms.
+	 NOTE: Keep in mind that the heap size should not be greater than the physical
+	 memory size of the system defined in DT (and this includes baseFW text/data).
+
+config SOF_ZEPHYR_VIRTUAL_HEAP_SIZE
+	hex "Size of the Zephyr virtual heap for SOF"
+	depends on VIRTUAL_HEAP
+	default 0x40000
+	help
+	 Support scaling of the virtual address heap size for different platforms.
+	 NOTE: Keep in mind that the heap size should not be greater than the physical
+	 memory size of the system defined in DT (and this includes baseFW text/data).
+
 config ZEPHYR_NATIVE_DRIVERS
 	bool "Use Zephyr native drivers"
 	default n
diff --git a/zephyr/include/rtos/alloc.h b/zephyr/include/rtos/alloc.h
index 6166ae6de449..600852418693 100644
--- a/zephyr/include/rtos/alloc.h
+++ b/zephyr/include/rtos/alloc.h
@@ -42,29 +42,21 @@
 
 /**
  * Allocates memory block.
- * @param zone Zone to allocate memory from, see enum mem_zone.
- * @param flags Flags, see SOF_MEM_FLAG_...
- * @param caps Capabilities, see SOF_MEM_CAPS_...
+ * @param flags Flags, see SOF_MEM_FLAG_....
  * @param bytes Size in bytes.
  * @return Pointer to the allocated memory or NULL if failed.
  *
- * @note Do not use for buffers (SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER zone).
- *       Use rballoc(), rballoc_align() to allocate memory for buffers.
  */
 void *rmalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes);
 
 /**
  * Similar to rmalloc(), guarantees that returned block is zeroed.
- *
- * @note Do not use  for buffers (SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER zone).
- *       rballoc(), rballoc_align() to allocate memory for buffers.
  */
 void *rzalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes);
 
 /**
- * Allocates memory block from SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER.
+ * Allocates memory block.
  * @param flags Flags, see SOF_MEM_FLAG_...
- * @param caps Capabilities, see SOF_MEM_CAPS_...
  * @param bytes Size in bytes.
  * @param alignment Alignment in bytes.
  * @return Pointer to the allocated memory or NULL if failed.
@@ -81,10 +73,9 @@ static inline void *rballoc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes)
 }
 
 /**
- * Changes size of the memory block allocated from SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER.
+ * Changes size of the memory block allocated.
  * @param ptr Address of the block to resize.
  * @param flags Flags, see SOF_MEM_FLAG_...
- * @param caps Capabilities, see SOF_MEM_CAPS_...
  * @param bytes New size in bytes.
  * @param old_bytes Old size in bytes.
  * @param alignment Alignment in bytes.
@@ -107,9 +98,6 @@ static inline void *rbrealloc(void *ptr, uint32_t flags,
 /**
  * Frees the memory block.
  * @param ptr Pointer to the memory block.
- *
- * @note Blocks from SOF_MEM_ZONE_SYS cannot be freed, such a call causes
- *       panic.
  */
 void rfree(void *ptr);
 
diff --git a/zephyr/lib/alloc.c b/zephyr/lib/alloc.c
index b9d970e34b8c..77c5aaeccf3e 100644
--- a/zephyr/lib/alloc.c
+++ b/zephyr/lib/alloc.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <sof/trace/trace.h>
 #include <rtos/symbol.h>
 #include <rtos/wait.h>
+
 #if CONFIG_VIRTUAL_HEAP
 #include <sof/lib/regions_mm.h>
 
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ struct vmh_heap *virtual_buffers_heap;
 #undef	HEAPMEM_SIZE
 /* Buffers are allocated from virtual space so we can safely reduce the heap size.
  */
-#define	HEAPMEM_SIZE 0x40000
+#define	HEAPMEM_SIZE CONFIG_SOF_ZEPHYR_VIRTUAL_HEAP_SIZE
 #endif /* CONFIG_VIRTUAL_HEAP */
 
 
@@ -384,7 +385,7 @@ void *rmalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes)
 		heap = &l3_heap;
 		/* Uncached L3_HEAP should not be used */
 		if (flags & SOF_MEM_FLAG_COHERENT) {
-			tr_err(&zephyr_tr, "L3_HEAP available for cached zones only!");
+			tr_err(&zephyr_tr, "L3_HEAP available for cached addresses only!");
 			return NULL;
 		}
 		ptr = (__sparse_force void *)l3_heap_alloc_aligned(heap, 0, bytes);
@@ -411,14 +412,12 @@ void *rmalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(rmalloc);
 
-/* Use SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER at the moment */
 void *rbrealloc_align(void *ptr, uint32_t flags, size_t bytes,
 		      size_t old_bytes, uint32_t alignment)
 {
 	void *new_ptr;
 
 	if (!ptr) {
-		/* TODO: Use correct zone */
 		return rballoc_align(flags, bytes, alignment);
 	}
 
@@ -445,9 +444,6 @@ void *rbrealloc_align(void *ptr, uint32_t flags, size_t bytes,
 
 /**
  * Similar to rmalloc(), guarantees that returned block is zeroed.
- *
- * @note Do not use  for buffers (SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER zone).
- *       rballoc(), rballoc_align() to allocate memory for buffers.
  */
 void *rzalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes)
 {
@@ -461,9 +457,8 @@ void *rzalloc(uint32_t flags, size_t bytes)
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(rzalloc);
 
 /**
- * Allocates memory block from SOF_MEM_ZONE_BUFFER.
+ * Allocates memory block.
  * @param flags see SOF_MEM_FLAG_...
- * @param caps Capabilities, see SOF_MEM_CAPS_...
  * @param bytes Size in bytes.
  * @param align Alignment in bytes.
  * @return Pointer to the allocated memory or NULL if failed.