The Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 is a $69 multi-function box that connects older equipment to smart home networks.
Home Assistant runs in more than 2.7 million households. The Open Home Foundation is a Swiss non-profit founded in 2024, with Nabu Casa acting as its commercial side. ZDNET reported that the device is the size of a deck of cards.
The most sustainable device is the one you already own. No device should be left behind because it doesn’t have smart capabilities, or worst of all, its cloud services get turned off.
Paulus Schoutsen, founder of Home Assistant and Nabu Casa
Users can connect optional Z-Wave or RS-485 adapters. Home Assistant promises compatibility with Waveshare’s USB-to-RS485 adapter for RS485 equipment. Nabu Casa will release its PCB and 3D-print files. The box runs ESPHome with an unlocked bootloader alongside a Grove port for adding sensors.
Technobezz noted that the optical connection delivers lossless audio at CD quality. Nabu Casa says that the digital-to-analog converter improves on the version found in the Voice Preview Edition.
Users can group disparate audio hardware into synchronized multi-room listening groups. They do this without relying on proprietary manufacturer apps. By using Music Assistant and Sendspin bridges, users can group a Sonos Era 100, a Google Nest Hub, local FLAC files, Spotify, or Tidal playing on an old hi-fi system alongside Sonos or AirPlay speakers.
The dual RS-232 serial ports allow direct control over legacy television sets, AV receivers, and solar inverters. Serial communication functions locally over a single cable. Connected equipment can remain responsive even if a manufacturer shuts down its cloud servers. Over serial, the hardware can turn up the volume, retrieve an energy reading, or wake a device from standby.
“So bring back that great-sounding, but forgotten, hi-fi and have it play in sync with Sonos or AirPlay speakers. Take that solar inverter or TV with an annoying app and wire it into Home Assistant with a serial connection. Connect AUX-2 helps you take back control of the devices in your home, and because it's fully open, our community will keep finding amazing new uses for it.” Home Assistant founder Paulus Schoutsen said.
The device operates on a power consumption level of no more than one or two watts. Setup is handled by a wizard after Home Assistant discovers the ESPHome device on the network.
