Mesh network versus a simple Wi-Fi extender

As others have said, MESH is the way to go. I have an ASUS RT-AS86U and a pair of RP-AC1900 nodes. The main router is upstairs in my office while I have a node downstairs in the living room and another also downstairs in my wife's office. I originally had just a simple Netgear extender in her office for her VOIP work phone but it didn't provide enough signal to get outside to our gazebo. (In the winters I run my Green Mountain Grill smoker with wifi out there.😉) Hence replacing the extender with the second mesh node.

The node in the living room is across the room from my hi-fi rig due to RF interference with my MC pre-preamp. So I ran Cat8 from the node across the room to my Node2i. No more interference!

The whole thing was really simple to set up and is rock solid. Every few months I check to see if there's updated firmware and upgrade but even that's simple with the ASUS app.

Having a good, solid wifi network is such a convenience and easy to do. That said, to optimize your streaming I do suggest running a cable from either your router or node to your streaming device. I don't understand why it would make a difference, it's airborne 1's and 0's right? But to my ears it did. Worth the $50 for the cable!

Happy listening.

I have the Orbi satellite connecting to the streamer, I never had a drop off. The biggest improvement was from replacing the satellite stocked power supply to a IFI iPower X adapter, and it is plugged into the power generator. This has made a major improvement in streaming in my case. 

It's all comes to one simple  WIFI mistake people make .  they try to save money on the router, and then try to compensate for mediocre  performance with extenders and mesh systems. Buy a good triband router with good coverage, It will cover the hole house. Designate one channel for your streaming needs. and you will be happy forever. Get  ASUS ROG Rapture AX11000 Tri Band Gigabit Wireless Router (GT-AX11000)  if you are tech.savvy . And get NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX12 12-Stream Wi-Fi 6 Router RAX200 AX11000  if you don't want to mess around.

Been using a Netgear extender for years. Never had  problems/dropouts. Excellant SQ.  Extender runs from Modem at one end of the house, up one floor to the opposite side of the house to my streamer. Supra ethernet both sides. Over 100 ft. distance   If you're just wiring one component like a streamer, use an extender.  No need for a mesh system.

@designsfx I can’t speak to the improved sound “quality” of streaming but I had previously suffered continuous dropouts and stuttering (for lack of a better description) which was driven by the router. When changing equipment I had been advised to use extenders (Powerline) as opposed to mesh but it was the router that made the real difference (using Amplifi Alien). The extenders have worked out great.

Power lines work for network but doees not fear well for the turntables. I heard quite loud packet clicks through the phono stage. Removing power extender removed the clicks. For streaming I use wireless extender (although it does degrade the wireless network somewhat) connecting it via cable directly to the streamer. Later solution seems to be working better in my case.