ToneRelay support: Coming soon · Model verification pending
Windows audio to AirPort Express with AirPlay 2
More AirPlay receiver support is coming soon to ToneRelay. This guide prepares the Windows audio requirements for AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd generation), including AirPlay 2-capable firmware and an external sound system. This model is not yet verified.
Quick answer
Support for more AirPlay speakers is coming soon. For Windows audio to AirPort Express, identify the second-generation 802.11n hardware, confirm AirPlay 2-capable firmware and connect the Express audio output to your sound system. System audio still needs a compatible Windows sender. ToneRelay support is Planned and unverified.
Get ready for upcoming AirPlay speaker support
We are preparing an upcoming ToneRelay release for additional AirPlay speakers. Exact model support will be announced after real-device verification.
- Find your exact model in the compatibility table. Coming soon does not mean every listed model or configuration has been verified.
- When support is released, check the required ToneRelay version, speaker firmware and supported setup for your model.
- Use the shared ToneRelay download once your model is verified. A Pro purchase does not unlock an unverified device in the current release.
- Check actual audible playback, reconnection and acceptable delay on your own PC and network before relying on the setup.
Identify the second-generation 802.11n AirPort Express
This roadmap names AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd generation), not AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule or every device sold under the AirPort name. Apple lists a combined 3.5 mm analog/optical audio jack, Ethernet ports and a USB port for a printer. A network connection or USB printer port is not a general PC audio input.
AirPlay 2 firmware: check what is actually installed
Apple’s firmware 7.8 update added AirPlay 2 support to 802.11n AirPort Express base stations. Confirm the installed firmware using an appropriate AirPort Utility and keep the exact hardware model in the record. This guide does not advise downgrading a newer firmware. Firmware capability is an evaluation prerequisite; it does not prove that ToneRelay has tested or can connect to the device.
The AirPort Express audio jack feeds your sound system
Connect the AirPort Express audio output to a suitable input on powered speakers, an amplifier or a DAC, using the appropriate analog or optical cable. The Express is a receiver with an audio output; plugging a PC headphone output into that jack is not an input route. Check the external sound system’s input and volume separately from receiver discovery.
Windows 11 and Windows 10: app music versus system audio
Windows does not have a general system-output selector for AirPort Express AirPlay audio. An application’s supported AirPlay music route sends that application’s content, not automatically browser video, Spotify, games or notifications. For live Windows default-output audio, evaluate a sender with explicit support for your AirPort hardware and firmware. Installing a configuration utility is not proof of system-audio forwarding.
Choose a Windows audio route for your existing sound system
| Audio task | Route to consider | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Music in an app with receiver support | Use the app’s own AirPlay selection if it lists your receiver. | Only that app’s supported content; confirm receiver and firmware support. |
| Live Windows system audio over the network | Evaluate a sender that explicitly supports your AirPort Express model. | No verified ToneRelay support is recorded. Discovery alone does not prove audio playback. |
| PC next to your amplifier or powered speakers | Connect the PC directly to a suitable audio input on that sound system. | This bypasses AirPort Express; check the connectors, cable and listening requirements. |
AirPlay 2 on a receiver does not guarantee Windows sender compatibility
The sender, installed firmware, network reachability and external audio chain all matter. AirPlay 1 and AirPlay 2 are not interchangeable compatibility guarantees for a Windows sender. ToneRelay currently provides neither AirPlay 1 receiver support nor multi-room playback, and its HomePod mini results cannot verify AirPort Express.
ToneRelay support is coming soon
ToneRelay support for more AirPlay speakers is coming soon. This device has not yet been verified. Current compatibility is not guaranteed.
We are preparing an upcoming ToneRelay release for additional AirPlay speakers. Exact model support will be announced after real-device verification.
All HomePod models are already supported in the current release. Official AirPlay capability alone does not establish ToneRelay compatibility for additional devices. Planned is the model-level verification state until real-device playback is confirmed.
AirPort Express ToneRelay status
| Device model | ToneRelay status | Scope and requirements |
|---|---|---|
| AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd generation) | Planned | Second-priority evaluation, limited to devices with AirPlay 2-capable firmware installed. Firmware 7.8 added AirPlay 2; ToneRelay playback is unverified. Additional AirPlay speaker support is coming soon; exact model availability is pending verification. |
Official connection references
Share your device model and Windows audio use case
If your planned speaker is the device you need, share its exact model, firmware, Windows version and listening task through the existing device request form. This helps assess hardware access and demand. A request is not a confirmed test, development commitment or release date.
ToneRelay today and what to do next
ToneRelay supports the full HomePod lineup: HomePod (1st generation), HomePod (2nd generation) and HomePod mini, for Windows audio on one speaker. Support for more AirPlay speakers is coming soon under the same ToneRelay brand and download. Additional supported models and the required release will be published after verification. Buying Pro does not enable a planned device or guarantee future compatibility.
Related Windows audio guides
Frequently asked questions
Which AirPort Express is in the ToneRelay roadmap?
The listed model is AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd generation), with AirPlay 2-capable firmware actually installed. ToneRelay support is Planned, not verified.
Does firmware 7.8 make ToneRelay work with AirPort Express?
No. Apple’s 7.8 firmware update added receiver-side AirPlay 2 capability. That is separate from ToneRelay real-device playback verification, which has not been completed for this model.
Can I use the AirPort Express USB port as a Windows sound card?
Apple documents that USB port for a printer. It is not a general PC audio input. Network audio leaves AirPort Express through its audio output to a separate sound system.
Should I buy ToneRelay for an AirPort Express setup now?
Do not buy on the assumption that Planned AirPort Express support is available. A Pro license does not enable an unverified device or guarantee future compatibility.
When will ToneRelay support more AirPlay speakers?
Support is coming soon in an upcoming ToneRelay release. The exact supported models and required release will be announced after real-device verification. Coming soon is a release announcement, not a claim that every listed device already works.
Can AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd generation) receive Windows audio over AirPlay 2?
This roadmap covers the second-generation 802.11n AirPort Express with AirPlay 2-capable firmware installed. Apple’s firmware 7.8 update added AirPlay 2. Its audio jack feeds an external sound system; it is not a PC audio input. A compatible Windows sender is still needed for system audio. More AirPlay speaker support is coming soon. ToneRelay status for AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd generation): Planned; playback has not been verified and current compatibility is not guaranteed.