I've been using the top of the line TP -Link powerline adapter for a few years now , it's noise free and flat out stable and reliable, it also sounds fantastic.
To extend Ethernet to remote location, are Powerline extenders or Mesh systems better?
I am trying to get Ethernet into a listening room that is not prewired, and it is not practical to run the hard cable through the old house into that room. I am planning to use a new music streamer that requires Ethernet connection (no wifi).
For hifi purposes, for passing the music signal, not just for computer equipment, are ethernet over powerline units better, or are wifi mesh router systems (which bring an ethernet port into a room using wireless transfer between the mesh devices) better?
For Ethernet over powerlines, I am worried about contaminating the power lines feeding the stereo preamplifier/amplifier, I don’t know if hifi power conditioners will filter out that super high frequency noise well enough.
For wifi mesh, it seems that the wireless handling of the music signal to feed the remote Ethernet port might somehow degrade the sound and introduce other problems that a connected wireline would avoid.
I am not a person that understands these technologies deeply, so I would value perspectives from others here who are users and who may be technically more qualified to understand this stuff.
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I had a Cat5 hardwired extender-router until the unit failed and I had this rigged totally with a plain Cat5 cable running from the main router, out one widow, outside then back into the masonry house .... I got a powerline extender and use the wifi from the outlet wart to connect my 2012 Macbook Pro > stream Tidal> wired USB to DAC etc and it sounds great and exactly the same as the Cat5 wired extender to Wifi>Macbook Pro> USB to DAC.... every few months I have to reset the node in my listening room or even less, both nodes. I never have to pair them again even after a power loss.... |
I have a headache after reading all the contradictory assertions here. @richtruss you seem to have done the most rigorous comparisons between the various options. If I’m reading you right, either WiFi or powerline options are compromised and you can only mitigate their compromises after the fact. No? I assume you’d say same for Mesh? Sounds like you’re advocating hardwired from router if at all possible — yes? If not possible, what’s your best recommendation? Thanks! |
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