Mesh network versus a simple Wi-Fi extender

@fuzztone Don’t worry about SQ. It’s all about the network.

Not necessarily. Sound does degrade with poor network connection, it is not even a subtle difference. 

@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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

@jperry 

Did you hear improvements in SQ when you switched to Eero? 

I'm was using a TP Link  Ethernet over AC adapter. I was having connection issues with my Innuos Zen. I have an Eero Mesh system. I recently placed an Eero mesh in the room and now I don't have connection problems. With both I just ran a ethernet cable from the the TP/Eero to the Innuos.  YMMV, but the Eero was a better solution for me.

Mesh is superb in my experience. But as others have stated, hardwire when possible. 

I experienced great improvements in sound quality when my Service provider took out the old router from my wifi network and replaced it with  pair of Mesh disc. Its a generic brand. I changed to a better brand eternet cable dont have much differences like changing the old router to these pair of mesh disc. 

Don’t worry about SQ. It’s all about the network.

I’m using a Netgear Powerline 2000 with a cat 8 cord to and from.

Works great!

NETGEAR Powerline adapter Kit, 2000 Mbps Wall-plug, 2 Gigabit Ethernet Ports with Passthrough + Extra Outlet (PLP2000-100PAS) https://a.co/d/eZdgUP9
 

An extender is all I need since all I am trying to do is get the best reception in one location only, my listening room. No need to mess around with a mesh network in my case.

Ok, what I’m getting here is that if distance from the router is involved a Mesh system is the preferred setup. But, in my situation I’ll be fairly close to my router but just not in a way to make it convenient to run hardwired directly from the router. So, in a situation where both an extender or Mesh could provide a solid signal, is one better than the other for sound or are they pretty much identical assuming both extender and Mesh are of comparable quality? Thanks again for all the good info/experience. Most helpful.

@soix I use EERO mesh. No drop outs. Zero issues. One EERO access point connected to my Bricasti M3 via Network Acoustics Eno. 
Regular EERO is around $170 for 3 units. You’ll have better coverage throughout your house than you would with extender.

Night and day friend. I got an extender for the Bluesound in my shed.

Intermittent.

Then I got another node for my mesh system for about the same cost

Rock solid.

Both TP-Link. I use the extender now to reach a wifi camera on an ocean porch for spring break.

I have a pretty big house and use an asus ax 6600 mesh network for my main system.  The system is on the opposite side of the house from the router.  (I have the second system hard wired into my router, which also supplies signal to our computers and our video system).  The main system is dead solid stable and the SQ is excellent.  The only thing plugged into the mesh node is the main system, which theoretically avoids contamination that could be introduced if other items were plugged into the mesh node.     

Read the reviews on any extenders carefully too though, as I've had really mixed experiences far worse than audio quality.

Years ago, I tried several powerline extenders and none of them was any good at all. I suppose they might work if both ends are on the same AC circuit. How often does that happen, since one needs an extender because of gear in different parts of the house?

As I don’t have a very big house, at this point I’m thinking using an extender with a good Ethernet cable to my streamer might work fine and is cheaper/simpler than a Mesh setup.  Thanks for sharing all the good thoughts/experience.

Extenders failed to provide the solid coverage I required not being able to

hardwire, mesh works excellent for me.

Big fan of a mesh system.

I have a main audio system server/streamer hardwired to the base router unit and a streamer endpoint for a second garage/outdoor system hardwired to a mesh node in the garage.  I have not experienced any dropouts or other problems and the three nodes allow me to control either system from my iPad/iPhone anywhere in the house or outdoors.

The mesh pods work much better in our house than the old extenders, which were really hit and miss.  So many drop outs.

Me and my neighbor both have ~2500 square feet homes.  We both tried extenders.  He was not  having problems with audio but his PCs dropping off.  I was having audio drop outs.   Both our experiences with extenders sucked.  He went to a mesh network and solved his PC dropouts. I followed suit.   My audio now is for the most part solid 😎.  Having a mesh node sitting near my main rig and hard wiring my streaming server to that solved my stability problems and I did not experience any degradation in SQ.   Note:  My HT, and about half the other devices in the house are hard wired to the base node or the router/modem.  

You are doing yourself a disservice if you don't find a way to go hardwired to your streamer.  

You almost never move your streamer through your home while playing music, so I don't think switching would be a real problem.  I do believe in keeping things simple though.  Mesh is great for large homes with lots of square feet to cover, including when you are looking for coverage say at the pool and the garage, that sort of thing.

Read the reviews on any extenders carefully too though, as I've had really mixed experiences far worse than audio quality.

I have heard recommendations against a mesh network for audio, as if the connection switches from one node to another, there could be dropouts.

I’ve got a mesh setup and the connections are stable, i.e. no roaming unless the signal drops below a certain threshold.

This PC Mag article explains the differences - Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What’s the Difference?

I'm using a TP Link  Ethernet over AC adapter .   From that I have a TP Link 10 port switch .   One SFP port goes to a TP Link MC220 fiber optic converter.  This is connected to my Aurender N200 via a short ethernet cable.   I do the same thing out of the switch's SFP 2 port to my Vault 2i.    Works perfectly 

I have heard recommendations against a mesh network for audio, as if the connection switches from one node to another, there could be dropouts. I have no experience with that myself, but it seems plausible. So maybe a WiFi extender would be better. Best, of course, is Ethernet directly to the streamer if possible. That avoids all vagaries of WiFi.

Like @designsfx , I’ve found find the router has a big influence, and some have worked much better than others. Currently, I’m using an ASUS RT-AX86U, not the most expensive, but an outstanding router in reliability, stability, and signal strength. It’s in the basement, and we get good coverage even on the 2nd floor.

Using the RT-AX86U, I’ve run my Auralic Aries G1 on WiFi for a few days, and the connection was rock-solid and not distinguishable from Ethernet. Your setup and results may vary.

@soix-

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.