Mesh network versus a simple Wi-Fi extender

@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.

@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. 

That’s the case at my place. I needed a network connection for a music server- the powerline was the easiest method of achieving that.

Range extenders are terrible. Never use an extender using your electric circuits. There are many options on putting in a network in your home. Wired network with switches is the best. If you don’t have or can’t put in a wired network, then a mesh network is your best option. The next option is using multiple routers throughout your home.

There are multiple ways to install a mesh network or a network with multiple routers. I setup my mesh network in a wired bridge configuration using the latest tri-band wifi6e nodes. I tripled my wifi network speeds throughout the home. My music server uses wifi and my dac is connected straight to the router. Since implementing my mesh network, my connections to the server are more reliable and the speed increase is huge.

lalitk

I don't know if it made an improvement in the sound. I don't listen to digital enough and didn't do a comparison at the the time. It did fix my connection problem.

@jperry 

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