There is a full video of this on my YouTube channel
Streaming music is convenient, but there’s still nothing quite like playing a full album on vinyl. The challenge is combining that analogue experience with modern smart home audio. In this guide, I’ll show you how to build a DIY system that lets you stream your record player to AirPlay speakers like HomePods using a Raspberry Pi and Home Assistant.
This setup creates what I’ll refer to throughout as the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge — a simple, network-accessible tool that connects your turntable to your smart speakers.
What Is the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge?
The Vinyl AirPlay Bridge is a lightweight streaming solution that captures audio from your turntable and broadcasts it over your network to AirPlay-enabled devices. It includes a simple web interface where you can select speakers, control playback, and adjust volume.
It also integrates with Home Assistant, allowing you to automate playback — for example, automatically streaming to a HomePod when you start your record player.
What You’ll Need
Turntable Requirements
Your record player should have a built-in preamp or a line-out option. This ensures the audio signal is at the correct level for digital input.
USB Audio Interface
You’ll need a compact USB audio interface to capture the audio signal. The Behringer UCA202 is a popular choice due to its affordability and reliability.
Check out the Behringer UCA202
Raspberry Pi
A Raspberry Pi acts as the core of the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge. A Raspberry Pi 5 is recommended for best performance, along with a wired Ethernet connection for stability.
My Code!
I’ve done most of the heavy lifting for you and have packaged the code that makes the magic happen along with a comprehensive readme with setup guide and a boilerplate service so it starts automatically on boot. You can find the code on my Github.
Network Setup
- Assign a static IP address to your Raspberry Pi
- Ensure all AirPlay devices are on the same network
- Use Ethernet where possible for lower latency
Follow the instructions in the repository!
How the System Works
The Vinyl AirPlay Bridge captures audio from your turntable via the USB interface and processes it on the Raspberry Pi. It then streams that audio over your local network to any AirPlay-compatible device.
You access the system through a browser-based interface hosted on the Raspberry Pi. From there, you can:
- Select one or multiple AirPlay speakers
- Start streaming instantly
- Adjust playback volume
The interface automatically discovers available devices on your network, including HomePods and Apple TVs.
Setting Up the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge
1. Prepare the Raspberry Pi
- Install Raspberry Pi OS
- Connect the USB audio interface
- Update the system and install required dependencies
2. Install the Software
The Vinyl AirPlay Bridge runs on a Python-based application. After downloading the code, follow the setup instructions to install required libraries and dependencies.
3. Configure Auto Start
To ensure the service runs automatically, create a system service that launches on boot. This keeps the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge always ready to stream.
4. Access the Web Interface
Once running, access the interface by navigating to your Raspberry Pi’s IP address with port 5050 using HTTP.
From here, you can select your audio source and choose which AirPlay speakers to stream to.
Streaming Your Vinyl
Using the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge is straightforward:
- Open the web interface
- Select your AirPlay speaker
- Start playback on your turntable
The audio will begin streaming across your network with minimal delay.
Home Assistant Integration
One of the most powerful features of the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge is its integration with Home Assistant.
If your turntable is connected to a smart plug or contact sensor, you can use that trigger to automatically start streaming.
How It Works
- The Vinyl AirPlay Bridge exposes an API endpoint
- Home Assistant sends a POST request to start streaming
- You specify the target speaker and volume level
Example Use Case
When the turntable lid is opened, a contact sensor triggers an automation that instantly streams audio to a designated HomePod.
Optional: Siri Shortcuts Integration
If you’re not using Home Assistant, you can still control the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge using Siri Shortcuts.
By sending a simple web request, you can create shortcuts to:
- Start streaming to specific speakers
- Control playback without opening the interface
Performance and Limitations
While the Vinyl AirPlay Bridge works well, there are a few considerations:
- Some latency is expected due to network streaming
- Wired connections significantly improve reliability
- Setup requires basic technical knowledge
This is not a plug-and-play solution, but it offers flexibility that commercial products often lack.
Final Thoughts
The Vinyl AirPlay Bridge is a practical way to combine analogue audio with a modern smart home setup. It lets you enjoy vinyl records while still taking advantage of distributed audio across your home.
If you’re comfortable with a bit of DIY and want more control over your audio setup, this is a highly rewarding project that brings together Raspberry Pi, Home Assistant, and AirPlay in a clean and functional way.
