TL;DR
Nabu Casa has launched the $69 Home Assistant Connect Aux-2, a compact device that adds Bluetooth proxying, audio output and serial connections to Home Assistant setups. Its features use Home Assistant and ESPHome integrations, though some audio capabilities remain in development and serial control was not tested in the source report.
Nabu Casa, the commercial arm of the Open Home Foundation, has launched the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2, a $69 device that adds several ways to connect equipment to a Home Assistant smart-home setup. Its connections include Bluetooth, USB, audio and serial ports, giving users options for linking compatible sensors, speakers and other devices that may not connect directly to a smart-home hub.
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The Aux-2 is about the size of a deck of cards. Its listed connections include 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB-A and USB-C, a digital/analog audio jack, a Grove port for peripherals such as sensors and buttons, and two RS-232 serial ports. It can run on USB-C power or power over Ethernet, according to the source report.
Different ports support different uses. A USB port can take a Nabu Casa Zigbee or Z-Wave antenna, potentially allowing a user to place that radio separately from a Home Assistant hub. Bluetooth proxying can bring nearby Bluetooth devices into Home Assistant. The serial ports are intended to control compatible equipment such as TVs, AV receivers and solar inverters, while the audio jack can connect an amplifier or powered speakers.
The device is based on ESPHome, an open platform for configuring devices built with ESP boards, and relies on existing Home Assistant and ESPHome integrations. The report describes setup through a browser-based firmware installation and the Home Assistant interface. In the reviewer’s test, Bluetooth setup took a few clicks; audio took longer because it also required an amplifier and Music Assistant configuration.
More ways to connect smart home gear
Nabu Casa’s Home Assistant Connect Aux-2 brings Bluetooth, audio and serial connections into one device. Its usefulness depends on compatible equipment and integrations.
Connect different kinds of gear
The device offers several routes for adding equipment to a Home Assistant setup.
Bring nearby sensors in
Bluetooth proxying connected Govee temperature and humidity sensors in the reviewer’s test.
Place a radio separately
A USB port can take a Nabu Casa Zigbee or Z-Wave antenna.
Use existing speakers
The audio jack connected in-wall speakers through an amplifier and Music Assistant in the test.
Control compatible equipment
Two RS-232 ports are intended for devices such as TVs, receivers and solar inverters.
How it fits the ecosystem
The Aux-2 relies on ESPHome and existing Home Assistant integrations to configure and connect devices.
The report describes a browser-based firmware installation.
Bluetooth devices appear after the proxy and relevant integration are enabled.
Audio playback required an amplifier and Music Assistant setup in the reviewer’s test.
What the report verified
Hands-on results cover one installation and the equipment used in that test.
| Feature | Report status |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth sensors | Connected in the test |
| Audio to in-wall speakers | Worked with extra setup |
| Serial control | Not tested |
| Speaker grouping with Sendspin | Not confirmed; in development |
Connecting More Gear to Home Assistant
The Aux-2 addresses a common practical hurdle for smart-home users: equipment can be useful but difficult to connect when it relies on a different wireless protocol, an older interface or a separate audio setup. By putting several connection options in one device, it may help users add those products without replacing them or building a custom bridge for each one.
That matters most for households with a mix of newer and older equipment. In the source report’s test, the reviewer used Bluetooth proxying to connect Govee temperature and humidity sensors for monitoring a garage fridge and freezer. The same report describes routing Music Assistant audio to existing in-wall speakers through an amplifier. These are individual test results, not a guarantee that every compatible device or audio arrangement will work the same way.
The product also reflects Home Assistant’s emphasis on extensibility through open-source software and integrations. The Aux-2 does not itself make every connected device smart; its usefulness depends on whether the equipment, integration and setup are supported.
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ESPHome and Existing Integrations
Home Assistant is an open-source smart-home platform, and ESPHome provides a way to configure and connect devices based on ESP boards. Nabu Casa is the commercial side of the Open Home Foundation, which runs Home Assistant. The Aux-2 combines that software ecosystem with hardware ports intended to support several kinds of connections.
The source report says the serial integration was developed earlier in 2026. It also identifies Music Assistant and Sendspin as relevant to the audio feature, with both described as being in active development. Sendspin is an audio standard developed by the Open Home Foundation; the report says it is intended to support grouping speakers across different protocols under certain conditions.
In the reviewer’s setup, Bluetooth sensors appeared in Home Assistant after the Bluetooth proxy and Govee integration were enabled. Music playback to in-wall speakers also worked after an amplifier and Music Assistant were configured. The reviewer had not yet tested serial control and had not succeeded in grouping speakers through Sendspin, so those parts should not be read as independently verified results.
Audio and Serial Support Still Developing
The source material does not specify the Aux-2’s release date beyond the November 2026 launch reference, where it can be purchased, or whether stock and availability vary by region. It also does not provide a full compatibility list, supported serial-device models, setup requirements for each use or details about software support over time.
Some of the described features have not been tested in the source report. The reviewer had not tried serial control with a TV, receiver or inverter. Sendspin was still in development, and the reviewer could not confirm whether unsuccessful speaker grouping reflected a setup issue or a limitation in the developing standard. The report also says the reviewer would like the Aux-2 to appear as an AirPlay or Spotify Connect target, but does not establish that it currently does.
The hands-on results are limited to one Home Assistant installation and the devices used in that test. They do not establish how reliably the Aux-2 works across other homes, network layouts or equipment combinations.
Compatibility Tests Will Fill Gaps
The next useful checks are broader compatibility testing and more direct demonstrations of the features the source report could not verify. That includes testing serial control with supported equipment, checking which devices can be used with the audio connections, and confirming how the Aux-2 behaves across different Home Assistant installations.
Users interested in the product should check Nabu Casa’s current product information and Home Assistant’s integration documentation for availability, supported hardware and setup steps. The source material does not announce a future release milestone or a timetable for Sendspin, so further development and compatibility details remain unconfirmed.
Key Questions
What is the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2?
It is a $69 multi-connection device launched by Nabu Casa for use with Home Assistant. It includes Bluetooth, USB, audio, Grove and RS-232 serial connections, among others.
What can the Aux-2 connect to?
Its intended uses include proxying compatible Bluetooth devices, attaching a Zigbee or Z-Wave antenna by USB, connecting audio equipment, and controlling compatible devices through serial ports. Support depends on the device and available integrations.
Does the Aux-2 work without Home Assistant?
The supplied material describes the Aux-2 as part of the Home Assistant and ESPHome ecosystem, with features configured through their interfaces and integrations. It does not explain whether or how the device functions independently.
Has serial control been tested?
Not in the source report. The reviewer described serial control as an interesting feature but had not yet tested it with a TV, receiver, solar inverter or other equipment.
Can it group speakers across different systems?
The report says Sendspin is intended to support grouping speakers across protocols under certain conditions, but the standard is still in development. The reviewer had not succeeded in getting that feature working, and the reason was unclear.
Source: theverge.com
