TL;DR
Nabu Casa has launched the $69 Home Assistant Connect Aux-2, a compact device that adds several ways to connect non-smart equipment to Home Assistant. A hands-on test found Bluetooth proxying and audio playback relatively easy to set up, while serial control and cross-platform speaker grouping were not fully tested.
Nabu Casa, the commercial arm of the Open Home Foundation, has launched the $69 Home Assistant Connect Aux-2, a small device designed to connect Bluetooth gadgets and other equipment to the Home Assistant smart-home platform. In a hands-on test published by The Verge, Bluetooth sensor monitoring and audio playback worked after setup, while the device’s serial-control features remained untested.
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About the size of a deck of cards, the Aux-2 includes 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB-A and USB-C, along with an audio jack, a Grove port for peripherals such as sensors and buttons, and two RS-232 serial ports. Its USB port can also connect a separate Nabu Casa Zigbee or Z-Wave antenna, giving users another option when their Home Assistant hub is poorly placed for wireless coverage.
The device runs on ESPHome, an open platform for building smart-home devices, and uses existing Home Assistant and ESPHome integrations. During The Verge’s test, the reviewer first connected it to a computer by USB-C to install firmware and enter Wi-Fi details, then completed setup through Home Assistant. The reviewer said the initial configuration was easier than expected.
Enabling Bluetooth proxying took a few clicks. After the reviewer added the Govee Bluetooth integration and powered up the sensors, they appeared in Home Assistant and continued connecting through three walls and a refrigerator, according to the report. For audio, the reviewer connected an amplifier and speakers and set up Music Assistant, which took less than half an hour in total. Serial control was not tested during the hands-on period.
One Box, Several Home Assistant Bridges
The Aux-2’s appeal is that it can address several common gaps in a Home Assistant setup without requiring a separate device for each one. A Bluetooth proxy can bring nearby sensors into the system, USB can support a Zigbee or Z-Wave antenna, and the audio jack can connect powered speakers or an amplifier. Serial ports offer a possible route to controlling equipment that is not designed for modern smart-home apps.
That could matter to people who want older appliances or audio gear to work alongside newer connected devices. In the reported test, the reviewer used Bluetooth sensors to restore monitoring of a garage refrigerator and freezer, and routed music to existing in-wall speakers. Those results show practical uses, but they are not evidence that every supported device or setup will work equally smoothly.
The device also reflects Home Assistant’s effort to make its open-source platform easier to use. The reviewer, who described relying on a mix of Google Home, Apple Home and Home Assistant, found that the setup wizard lowered some of the friction. Whether that ease carries over to users with different hardware, networks or integrations remains to be seen.
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Built on Existing Home Assistant Tools
The Aux-2 combines several capabilities that depend on software beyond the device itself. Bluetooth proxying uses Home Assistant integrations, while audio playback relies on Music Assistant. The Verge report says Music Assistant can play from services including Spotify and YouTube Music, as well as local files, and can send audio to outputs such as Sonos, Wiim, AirPlay and Google Cast once those services and devices are configured.
Some features are at different stages of development. The report says the serial integration was developed earlier in 2026. Music Assistant and SendSpin, the software associated with the Aux-2’s audio-out feature, are in active development. SendSpin is an Open Home Foundation whole-home audio standard intended to support grouping speakers that use different protocols under certain conditions.
The reviewer’s own setup illustrates both the promise and the limits: the Govee sensors appeared after integration, and the in-wall speakers played music through Music Assistant. However, the reviewer did not get SendSpin speaker grouping working and had not tested serial control. The report says the cause of the grouping issue was unclear, including whether it came from configuration or the developing standard.
““unsurprisingly useful and surprisingly easy to set up””
— The Verge reviewer
Serial Control and Audio Grouping
The hands-on report does not establish how well the Aux-2’s RS-232 serial connections work with specific TVs, receivers, solar inverters or other equipment. The reviewer had not yet had time to test them, and the report does not provide a compatibility list or describe results from those connections.
It is also unclear how easily SendSpin will group speakers that use different audio protocols. The reviewer did not get the feature working and could not determine whether the problem was configuration-related or tied to software still in development. The report also does not confirm whether the Aux-2 can act directly as an AirPlay or Spotify Connect target; the reviewer said that might require further setup.
The reported tests involved one reviewer’s equipment and network. The source material does not establish broader reliability, performance across different Home Assistant installations, or how the product compares with separate devices for each function.
Further Tests Will Clarify Compatibility
The next useful checks are whether serial control works with a range of equipment, whether SendSpin grouping can be configured reliably, and whether the Aux-2 can serve as the direct AirPlay or Spotify Connect target the reviewer wanted. The reviewer said those tests had not been completed at publication.
For prospective buyers, the immediate question is whether the device’s supported connections match the hardware they want to bring into Home Assistant. The reported Bluetooth and audio results offer examples, but buyers should check the relevant Home Assistant integrations and device requirements before relying on the Aux-2 for a particular setup. The source provides no stated timetable for further testing or for completion of the developing audio features.
Key Questions
What is the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2?
It is a $69 multi-function device from Nabu Casa that connects Bluetooth devices and other hardware to Home Assistant. It includes Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, an audio jack, a Grove port and two RS-232 serial ports.
What worked in the hands-on test?
The Verge reviewer set up Bluetooth proxying and connected Govee Bluetooth sensors to Home Assistant. The reviewer also used Music Assistant to play music through an amplifier and existing in-wall speakers.
Can the Aux-2 control TVs or solar inverters?
Its serial ports are intended to connect equipment such as TVs, receivers and solar inverters, but the report’s reviewer had not tested serial control. Compatibility and results for particular devices are not established in the source.
Does it group speakers from different systems?
SendSpin is intended to support cross-protocol speaker grouping under certain conditions, but the reviewer did not get it working. The standard is still in development, and the cause of the setup issue was unclear.
Does the Aux-2 need Home Assistant software?
Yes. The reported setup used Home Assistant and ESPHome integrations, with Music Assistant installed for audio playback. The Aux-2’s functions rely on those software components rather than operating as a standalone smart-home system.
Source: theverge.com
