Your older gear joins the smart home: Home Assistant launches Connect AUX-2
Nabu Casa's new device links older audio gear, RS-232 equipment and Z-Wave to a smart home that works without the makers' clouds.
A smart-home company released a small box that connects older devices to its system, like an old speaker or air conditioner. It works from inside your home, without needing the maker's internet service.
Hype check
Quieter than it deserves. This one matters more than the coverage suggests.
Our editorial opinion, based on the sources below. How we score
Your call: hype or real?
Real = it will matter in daily use. Hype = louder than it is. One vote, and it can’t be changed.
Our view and readers’ views are opinions, not statements of fact about a product.
Why it matters
It is a low-cost way to keep older devices useful and control them from one local system.
Try it: if an old speaker at home needs linking to your phone.
The details
- On November 11, 2026 Nabu Casa announced Home Assistant Connect AUX-2, available worldwide today.
- It costs $69 in the US and €59 in Europe.
- It supports audio streaming, control of RS-232 devices, a Z-Wave adapter connection and a Bluetooth hub.
- It runs on Power over Ethernet, and also supports USB power and Wi-Fi.
- It aims to bring older audio gear, solar and climate equipment into a smart home and control new devices without relying on their internet connections.
Receipts
The company or lab said it. Primary source linked. Open the sources and check us.
Written with the help of AI tools and checked against the sources above. How we work
See a mistake? Tell us and we’ll fix it.