Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 – Smart home multi-tool with PoE for Home Assistant
Description
Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 – the smart home multi-tool
Integrate your existing gear into your smart home with Home Assistant Connect AUX-2, the ultimate smart home multi-tool. Stream CD-quality audio directly to your Hi-Fi or AV receiver, perfectly synced with your existing smart speakers. Manage solar setups, TVs, UPSs and more via its USB and two serial ports.
Optimize your Z-Wave network by placing it in the ideal spot in your home, and expand your Bluetooth reach with a dedicated antenna. Power over Ethernet (PoE) enables a clean, single-cable setup, with Wi-Fi and USB-C options ready whenever you need them. Best of all, every purchase funds the development of Home Assistant.
Note: a Home Assistant system (for example Home Assistant Green) is required to connect and control devices with Connect AUX-2. Connect ZWA-2, the RS-485 adapter and the USB-C/Ethernet cables are sold separately.
Key features
- The smart home multi-tool – audio, serial, Z-Wave and Bluetooth, all at the same time. Just plug it in, and the Home Assistant wizard helps you set it up.
- Powerful options – power and data over a single Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable, or USB-C power with Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Whole-home synced audio – CD-quality analog or optical audio for your Hi-Fi or receiver, in sync with your smart speakers and ready for Music Assistant.
- Advanced control – 2x RS-232 and RS-485 (adapter sold separately) let you control your TV, receiver or projector even in standby, plus other serial equipment.
- Connect anywhere – move your Z-Wave network (Connect ZWA-2, sold separately) to the best spot in your home, wherever there is a network socket.
- Rock-solid Bluetooth – a dedicated antenna brings Bluetooth smart home devices into Home Assistant over a stable wired connection (Bluetooth audio is not supported).
- Built to be tinkered with – built on ESPHome and easy to take apart. Ready to go out of the box, or customize it to your needs.
- Reliable to the core – built by Nabu Casa, with dedicated support and years of software updates.
In the box
- Home Assistant Connect AUX-2
- Warranty and safety information leaflet
- Home Assistant sticker
USB-C and Ethernet cables are not included.
Practical use cases
- An older but great-sounding stereo amplifier joins your home audio: AUX-2 sends it sound over the optical cable or the 3.5 mm jack, and Music Assistant plays the same music in sync with the smart speakers in other rooms.
- Control your TV, AV receiver or projector over RS-232: power them on and adjust the volume from Home Assistant automations, even when they are in standby and do not respond on the network.
- Read a solar inverter or home battery over RS-485 (with a USB adapter sold separately) to follow production and consumption directly in Home Assistant.
- A Connect ZWA-2 plugged into the USB-A port of AUX-2 and placed with it in the middle of the house, with a single PoE cable for power and data, far from the Home Assistant server in the network cabinet, for better Z-Wave coverage.
Technical specifications
| Model | NC-AUX-9758 |
| SoC | ESP32-S3R8, 8 MB PSRAM, 8 MB flash |
| Audio DAC | TI PCM5122, 112 dB SNR |
| Ethernet controller | W5500 |
| Power | USB-C, 5 V DC, 2 A; Power over Ethernet (802.3af or better) |
| Typical power draw | Under 1 W |
| Audio output | 3.5 mm analog or optical (S/PDIF), output only; only one output can be used at a time |
| Analog audio | 16-bit / 48 kHz stereo |
| Digital audio | 16-bit / 48 kHz stereo PCM, lossless |
| Codecs | FLAC, MP3, WAV |
| Whole-home audio | Synchronized via Music Assistant (Sendspin) |
| Serial ports | 2x 3.5 mm RS-232 (±5 V), TX/RX switch |
| USB-A | Connect ZWA-2 (Z-Wave) or Waveshare USB-to-RS-485 adapter (sold separately) |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz, 802.11b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5 LE; proxy with up to 3 active connections |
| Ethernet | Power over Ethernet (802.3af or better) or Ethernet with USB-C power |
| Software | Built for Home Assistant, built on ESPHome; unlocked bootloader, accepts custom firmware |
| Dimensions / weight | 106 x 63 x 25 mm, 104 g; in box 110 x 72 x 28 mm, 136 g |
| Enclosure | Polycarbonate, white and semi-transparent |
| Operating conditions | Indoor use only, 0–65 °C, non-condensing humidity; keep away from excessive dust, direct sunlight and heat sources |
| Conformity | CE, FCC, RCM |
| Origin | China |
Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 is the right choice for anyone who wants to bring audio gear, TVs, solar inverters and a Z-Wave network into Home Assistant through a single PoE-powered device.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work without Home Assistant?
No. Connect AUX-2 is built for Home Assistant and needs a Home Assistant system (for example Home Assistant Green) for setup and control.
Can I listen to music over Bluetooth?
No. The Bluetooth antenna works as a Bluetooth LE proxy for sensors and other smart home devices; Bluetooth audio is not supported. Music reaches AUX-2 over the network, from Home Assistant or Music Assistant.
Can I use the analog and optical outputs at the same time?
No, only one audio output can be used at a time.
How is it powered?
Via Power over Ethernet (802.3af or better PoE switch or injector), with a single cable for power and data, or via USB-C (5 V, 2 A) with Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Cables are not included.
What do I need for Z-Wave and RS-485?
For Z-Wave, a Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 plugged into the USB-A port; for RS-485, a Waveshare USB-to-RS-485 adapter. Both are sold separately.