Home Assistant creators announced the Connect AUX-2 on Wednesday at 21:30 CET on their official YouTube channel, root.cz reported.
Measuring 106 by 36 by 25 millimeters, the device operates on an ESP32-S3 chip with 8MB of PSRAM and 8MB of flash memory. A Texas Instruments PCM5122 audio DAC delivers a signal-to-noise ratio of 112 dB. Ethernet connectivity runs through a WIZnet W5500 controller featuring eight independent hardware sockets and 32 KB of buffer memory. The hardware communicates across an SPI bus at an 80 MHz clock frequency while drawing under 1 watt of power.
Sendspin protocol audio streaming
The primary purpose of the device is lossless audio streaming via a 3.5-millimeter jack output supporting analog or digital S/PDIF connections through a Mini-TOSLINK optical cable, root.cz reported. Supported codecs include FLAC, MP3, and WAV. The Open Home Foundation developed the open-source Sendspin network protocol to provide an alternative to commercial ecosystems. Direct ESPHome support arrived in version 2026.3.0, allowing custom device programming alongside C++ and Python SDK integrations.
Managing external hardware with serial ports and Z-Wave
AUX-2 includes two RS-232 serial ports for managing external hardware via the Modbus protocol, root.cz reported. Supported devices include select LG and Samsung television models alongside Denon home theater receivers. A USB-A port functions as a third serial link or connects a Waveshare USB-RS-485 adapter.
Users operating Z-Wave networks can plug a ZWE-2 gateway directly into the AUX-2 instead of running it through the main Home Assistant server. The hardware also features a built-in Bluetooth antenna that operates as a proxy supporting up to three simultaneous connections.
Music Assistant server integration
Music Assistant unifies local storage, online streaming services, and internet radios into a single application, root.cz reported. Installations run via Home Assistant OS or through a Docker Compose container configured with host network modes.
Text-to-Speech automation examples
Local text-to-speech conversion operates through the Piper system connected via the Wyoming protocol, root.cz reported. Additional routines trigger morning wake-up sequences that stream designated radio stations like Czech Radio’s Radiožurnál at preset times.
What power supply and wireless features the AUX-2 uses
What power supply does the AUX-2 require when not using PoE? The device runs on a 5-volt power adapter delivering at least 2 amperes through a USB-C cable, root.cz reported.
Users configure wireless setups on the 2.4 GHz band using Bluetooth through the Improv via BLE integration in Home Assistant, root.cz reported.
The anticipated price is set at 59 euros, root.cz reported.
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