Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Belkin Designing 'Soundform Connect' Adapter to Add AirPlay 2 to Speakers
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
There are a lot of posts mentioning various solutions supporting AirPlay 1, which has a lot of limitations of which maybe the most serious is lacking the ability to play to multiple outputs at the same time from iOS. (Prior to Airplay 2 I had a Mac set up as an iTunes server, and used the iOS remote app to control it.)
I have hoarded AirPort Express units that are connected to speakers in every room of my house, I can play music to all of them at the same time, in sync.
For you, maybe. I have been buying every used AirPort Express I could get my hands on for a reasonable price since Apple stopped selling them. The exorbitant prices people can charge for them, and the fact that they always sell immediately, proves there is a big market.
I have been waiting for something like this for years, so it is a big "finally" and two thumbs up from me.
Not if you want to connect it to something that sounds a lot better (or has different functionality) than a HomePod.
I have considered this, but the Apple TV lack optical output.
Because Airplay 2?
I have hoarded AirPort Express units that are connected to speakers in every room of my house, I can play music to all of them at the same time, in sync.
For you, maybe. I have been buying every used AirPort Express I could get my hands on for a reasonable price since Apple stopped selling them. The exorbitant prices people can charge for them, and the fact that they always sell immediately, proves there is a big market.
I have been waiting for something like this for years, so it is a big "finally" and two thumbs up from me.
Not if you want to connect it to something that sounds a lot better (or has different functionality) than a HomePod.
I have considered this, but the Apple TV lack optical output.
Last edited:
...or the Sonos Port, which does AirPlay 2 but is £399. £99 sounds OK for a plain AirPlay 2 adapter, especially since there doesn't seem to be any direct alternative?
I have one of these, a MUZO Cobblestone, with Airplay (1) support, works great.
Last edited:
Seeing as competitors retail at £500 in the UK I think it's a bargain! Have a look at Sonos Port and Bluesound Node 2i
I agree,
what I need is a type of “bridge “ device that will allow my blue ray player and ps , STB to be connected to a device that will output sound to my airplay speakers.
I just noticed the Belkin device lacks Ethernet. Not a showstopper, for sure, but I have wireless entirely disabled on most of my Airport Express units, and to prefer not having more devices on wifi than necessary. (Currently 28 of them.)
Not quite true, I have had a Libratone kitchen speaker with AirPlay 2 for years, and also have a Denon receiver.
Not quite true, I have had a Libratone kitchen speaker with AirPlay 2 for years, and also have a Denon receiver.
Last edited:
Used to have my Airport Express attached to Denon HiFi over optical but had to restart it every so often to keep it working. Now have HiFi connected to telly with Apple TV. If hifi wasn't next to telly I'd consider this. Would rather Apple made a new AE though...
There are many third-party AirPlay 2 enabled products out there. Tv's, speakers, receivers, etc. Why would this be any different?
Last edited:
please let this be true. I have an Express connected to my expansive kitchen radio and would hate it if the radio one day loses the ability to play via AirPlay 2 because the Express gives up on us.
This is a game-changer for many - if they decide to exploit it to the full. The last version of Airport Express is still good enough to use today for music streaming. Once Apple discontinued it and Google stopped Chromecast Audio there was no mainstream way to just hook up legacy speakers wirelessly. A few cheap no-name brands but no serious contender. There were streamers with DACS and amps built-in but these started around £400-500. (Models like Bluesound Node 2i and Sonos Connect and Port)
Belkin appears to be working on a new "Belkin Soundform Connect" adapter that will connect to a standard speaker to add AirPlay 2 capabilities.
The adapter was found in FCC filings by Janko Roettgers (via 9to5Mac), and it looks like it will be powered by a USB-C cable and will feature a 3.5mm mini jack port for audio output and Optical Digital Audio.
The functionality may be similar to the AirPort Express, which is no longer available. The AirPort Express enabled AirPlay functionality on a standard speaker through the 3.5mm jack.
When a speaker is connected to Belkin's adapter, an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other Apple device will be able to see it as an AirPlay 2 speaker.
AirPlay 2 is a multi-room audio feature that lets you stream music to more than one AirPlay 2 enabled speaker. AirPlay 2 is available on the HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV, Sonos speakers, and other third-party speaker options.
The Belkin Soundform Connect will also add HomeKit support, which will allow the speakers to be assigned to a room and to be controlled with Siri voice commands or the Home app.
There's no word on when the Belkin Soundform Connect will be released, but it could be priced at around 100 euros or $120.
Article Link: Belkin Designing 'Soundform Connect' Adapter to Add AirPlay 2 to Speakers
The clever thing to do with Airport Express units and probably this from Belkin is to connect to an active speaker system that may already have a good DAC built in. You then have a very high quality minimalist system which can be operated from almost any device wirelessly.
It's so simple that I'm sure that's why Apple and Google discontinued them. My home has 2 AEX units connected to active speakers of high quality and they sound fantastic with no drop-outs. I'm hoping the Belkin will be even better and allow users to operate far better sound systems than the current smart speakers.
If anyone is in need of this device now, Bose last may released support for their long time device, SoundTouch Wireless Link Adapter and it’s $129. I know it lacks optical audio out, and sadly same as belkins device, an Ethernet port, but it’s an airplay 2 target now as well doing exactly what this does.
I have been closely watching for new devices to replace my 6 AirPort Express in case one of them decides to quit on me.
I wish there were something cheaper than the Sonos Port/Amp and the Bluesound Node 2i. I don’t have the cash laying around to replace 6 devices at $600 a pop.
I have been closely watching for new devices to replace my 6 AirPort Express in case one of them decides to quit on me.
I wish there were something cheaper than the Sonos Port/Amp and the Bluesound Node 2i. I don’t have the cash laying around to replace 6 devices at $600 a pop.
Last edited:
I’m not concerned about the ‘lag’, that comes with any Bluetooth device it’s slight degree, but usually minimal enough where it’s not that noticeable. The only concern I would have with this is this is a bit overpriced, but I guess if you’re a fan of Belkin with no other comparable options on the market at this price point, then it might be the answer some are looking for.
it’s instantaneous because homepod can play apple music on it’s own, so when you airplay from music app to homepod you are not really airplaying, you are just sending instructions to it what to play / controlling the playback on homepod. homepod streams it itself. try airplaying spotify and you see a super significant lag while scrubbing
True, but adding AirPlay 2 capabilities to an EXISTING device is no-go without an AE...so far. The goal of most or all of my clients is to utilize what they have, especially using existing in-wall, in-ceiling, or expensive installed devices. The added clutter of bookshelf speakers, power cables running across countertops, et.al. is unwelcome in many homes, as is the expense of a Sonos system or the like. Apple has licensed new-made stuff but has thus far refused to license add-on.
I'd like an ethernet port as well. Wireless stream to wireless device to wireless router to wireless AirPlay 2 target is sometimes a stretch. I almost always use wired, and it is usually rock-solid and reliable, especially with static IP addresses. I set up one home with no fewer than 24 pairs of speakers in 16 zones this way and in 2 years all he has had to do is reset the Airport Expresses by toggling a power switch on a UPS after a power outage (16 Airports will empty a UPS in no time at all). The cabling octopus for such an install was rather unfriendly, though.
I would LOVE a small-ish device with multiple AirPlay 2 targets in it. While I have become adept at re-wiring an Express to use power from a multi-port USB charger to eliminate a lot of cabling, it would be nice to have, say, eight targets in a small box with easy output to a multichannel amp. Or have a multichannel amp with a matching number of AirPlay 2 targets installed.
You could try to find a low end stereo receiver that supports airplay 2. Not sure if they work both ways or not. Also the Sonos port does transmit audio both ways over the Sonos mesh system. It also supports airplay 2 but I don’t know if it can send audio both ways through airplay 2. Just some options to look into if you haven’t already.
True, but I don't think they support Airplay 2.
If there's a way to use Airplay 2 with an Apple TV 3 let me know. I would love to add airplay 2 to my Sonos playbar (optical in)
Does anyone really prefer tape quality to CD quality ?
I can understand that vinyl has some appeal (although overrated in my opinion) but tape ?
Please do link to a product that will allow me to receive Airplay 2 audio on an existing speaker system over an optical interface for less than $120, preferably in a container that is smaller than a can of soda.
If you have a Wifi-enabled raspberry pi collecting dust, and about an hour, you can create a DLNA/Airplay receiver yourself:
At $100+ it's highway robbery. Yeah let me connect my $150 Klipsch speakers using a $100 adapter. Gimmie a break!
Apple Airplay on Raspberry Pi in 7 Easy Steps - App Code Labs
Want to add Apple Airplay to your existing hifi system? Learn how to turn a Raspberry Pi into an Airplay server. This 7-step guide shows you how.
appcodelabs.com
At $100+ it's highway robbery. Yeah let me connect my $150 Klipsch speakers using a $100 adapter. Gimmie a break!
This is NOT airplay 2 though, only airplay 1 and does not support multi room audio from iOSIf you have a Wifi-enabled raspberry pi collecting dust, and about an hour, you can create a DLNA/Airplay receiver yourself:
Apple Airplay on Raspberry Pi in 7 Easy Steps - App Code Labs
Want to add Apple Airplay to your existing hifi system? Learn how to turn a Raspberry Pi into an Airplay server. This 7-step guide shows you how.appcodelabs.com
At $100+ it's highway robbery. Yeah let me connect my $150 Klipsch speakers using a $100 adapter. Gimmie a break!