Hands on with Home Assistant’s new ‘smart home multi-tool’
Nabu Casa has released the Home Assistant Connect AUX-2, a $69 USB-powered hub that adds infrared, Bluetooth and 3.5 mm audio output to any Home Assistant instance. The device lets users control legacy stereos, TVs and other infrared equipment through Home Assistant automations and voice assistants, and can stream audio to older speakers that lack native smart capabilities. Reviewers note the hub is recognized automatically by Home Assistant with no manual configuration required.
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- ✓ The Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 is sold by Nabu Casa for $69.
- ✓ The hub provides infrared control, Bluetooth proxy and a 3.5 mm line-level audio output.
- ✓ It is automatically discovered and configured by Home Assistant without manual setup.
- ✓ Reviewers demonstrated syncing a legacy speaker with a Sonos system using the AUX-2.
What changed
Nabu Casa began shipping the Home Assistant Connect AUX-2, a new first-party multi-protocol hub priced at $69.
Live updates
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Home Assistant launches $69 Connect AUX-2 hub to revive legacy audio and TV gear
Nabu Casa has released the Home Assistant Connect AUX-2, a $69 USB-powered hub that adds infrared, Bluetooth and 3.5 mm audio output to any Home Assistant instance. The device lets users control legacy stereos, TVs and other infrared equipment through Home Assistant automations and voice assistants, and can stream audio to older speakers that lack native smart capabilities. Reviewers note the hub is recognized automatically by Home Assistant with no manual configuration required.
Why it matters
Home Assistant users have long relied on separate IR blasters, Bluetooth proxies and audio adapters to integrate older equipment. The AUX-2 consolidates those functions into a single, officially supported dongle sold by Nabu Casa, the company behind Home Assistant Cloud. Priced at $69, it lowers the barrier for whole-home automation that includes non-smart devices.
What is confirmed
- The Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 is sold by Nabu Casa for $69.
- The hub provides infrared control, Bluetooth proxy and a 3.5 mm line-level audio output.
- It is automatically discovered and configured by Home Assistant without manual setup.
- Reviewers demonstrated syncing a legacy speaker with a Sonos system using the AUX-2.
Still unconfirmed
- The AUX-2 may eventually support Thread or Matter bridging in a firmware update.
What to watch next
- Community-developed automations leveraging the combined IR, Bluetooth and audio paths
- Firmware roadmap from Nabu Casa for additional protocol support
- Availability and shipping times beyond initial launch batch
confidence 88%Sources used for this update (14)
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