Video: Belkin's Soundform Connect Adds AirPlay 2 to Your Existing Speakers

Last month, Belkin introduced the Soundform Connect Audio Adapter with AirPlay 2, letting users turn their traditional speakers into AirPlay 2-enabled devices.


MacRumors videographer Dan has now had a chance to spend some time with the accessory, so check out our latest video for a look at the setup process, using standalone speakers via ‌AirPlay‌, and integrating those speakers into a whole-home setup with other ‌AirPlay‌ 2 speakers.

Physical setup is dead simple, with a USB-C port on one side for power and both optical and 3.5mm analog audio out jacks on the other side, letting you easily connect it to your existing powered speakers, receiver, or amplifier.

As is to be expected with ‌AirPlay‌ 2 devices, software setup is simple, with the Home app walking you through the process to get the dongle added to your existing home configuration. Once that's done, it's just a simple matter of selecting it as your audio output destination on your iOS or Mac device.

With ‌AirPlay‌ 2, you can use your newly connected speakers as part of a multi-room setup incorporating other speakers like HomePods, with audio output being synced across all speakers.

Integration with the Home app also gives you the ability to incorporate your speakers into scenes and other automations.

The Soundform Connect Audio Adapter with AirPlay 2 is priced at $99.99, so it's not exactly cheap, but if you got a nice sound system that lacks ‌AirPlay‌ support, this adapter can add some very useful functionality.

Top Rated Comments

bentup Avatar
30 months ago
Important concept, but a bit expensive for what it is. Airport Expresses on ebay still get the job done for a third of the price.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
topdrawer Avatar
30 months ago
all those speakers to play that terrible song.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bluespark Avatar
30 months ago

this looks great to make old, high-end sound systems “smart”.

I do wonder, however, what kind of sound stage one would get out of this given the tiny pre-amp.

the concept is great, but I feel like it should have an optical audio out instead so you can losslessly hook it up to a powerful pre-amp.

That, of course would only work with in modern systems that support optical audio.

Other than that, something like a Cambridge audio 851N has a “proper” pre-amp and also supports AirPlay.
The writeup says it has an optical out.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nosaj72 Avatar
30 months ago

Sounds like an expensive solution. For $99 you could get a Raspberry Pi that will do the exact same thing. Or as others have said, grab a used AirPort Express.
Not exactly. The pi can do Airplay but not Airplay2.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kalafalas Avatar
30 months ago
I will be buried with my AirPort expresses. May they never stop working
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
praetorian909 Avatar
30 months ago

Do old Airport Express routers implement Airplay 2? Don't think so.
The AirPort Express N models (the one with a power cable) do support AirPlay 2. Apple released a new firmware back in 2018.

https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/28/airport-express-airplay-2-homekit/amp/
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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