Mesh network versus a simple Wi-Fi extender


In anyone’s experience, does implementing a pricier Mesh network yield any sonic advantages to just using a good Wi-Fi extender and running a good Ethernet cable from that?  From people who have very good streamer setups it seems like using a simple but good Wi-Fi extender from TP-Link etc. is more than fine.  Thoughts?

soix

Showing 1 response by nosualc

Ethernet cabling within sane distances is simple, cheap, reliable, and doesn’t suffer performance (speed) degradation. If you can physically do it.

With WIFI reliability and speed can be tricky, and it’s not as cheap (although not nearly as expensive as most of our hifi gear).

If you have 1Gig service to your home, you only need a very small fraction of that to stream audio. As a point of fact, I also have a 1Gig connection to my home, and use a wireless access point and an extender to my detached garage, where I have a very reliable connection and can stream hi-res audio, and 4k video simultaneously, as well as serving 3 desktop computers with ample speed.

Whether extenders or a mesh, the trick is to get a reliable strong wifi connection (this can be admittedly tricky). Given a sufficiently performant and reliable WIFI connection, I can see no disadvantage sonically.

Some would even argue that WIFI isolates you from electronic noise that might transit into your system via a wired connection. I’m not convinced that this is a real concern, or is just audiophile OCD.