Wifi vs hardwired for streaming

@vicweast You can’t even compare your Eero network to that average consumer, as most Eero packages are 3 units, and if they’re the dual-band units they can’t operate at full speed on all APs unless you run ethernet backhauls between them. Not sure what model you have, but an Eero Max 7 Tri-band WiFi 7 3-piece system, which includes an internal 6Ghz backhaul, sells for $1700, and are the size of Netgear Orbi’s. A Pro-6E set is $450 for 3, which means about $900 for 6, usually beyond the price point for the average consumer. 

The point I’m trying to make is that your mesh system can’t be used to as a comparison piece against  the results that the average consumer gets who may not have the wiring or the line-of-site availability. I know for a fact that a 3-set Eero can’t work in my house, unless I have 6 of them, because some of my internal walls were built with double-sided insulation (I’m now using TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 Decos).

@pcolvin yes it is expensive, and yes I have 5 in my house an additional 2 "all weather" outside and one in my workshop (woodworker etc hobbies).  

...But the Eero's aren't the point, I previously used 3 multi-antenna routers in my previous home.  Couple of hundred dollars, so...  Why the Eero's? Easier to maintain a reliable and SAFE network.  Cat-something is much cheaper, but labor intensive to wire a home.  Today, starting from scratch: I would absolutely run fiber with a couple of WAPs where it makes sense.  

The best way really to set up a home network is to use the big bandwidth where performance is key (less and less important with the advances in wireless) but to also SEGREGATE your network into purpose-specific sub-nets (in both senses): Such as, a dedicated "link" (wireless subnet on a dedicated channel, or fiber, or Cat-something) from the ISP router to these different sub-nets.  For instance, a home office with multiple inter-communicating devices should not be contending with traffic for the TV or streaming.

You are 2 weeks late...

Adding my vote to fiber. I have a long ethernet run followed by a 10’ fiber moat. Generic spec: ethernet -> converter -> fiber -> converter -> ethernet, but: the "last mile" matters.  I’ve used both Finisar and Optospan transceivers connected by single-mode fo cable; I finally settled for a the "Low-Loss Single Mode LC-LC Cable" and a pair of transceivers from Optospan. The last converter is an Etherregen powered by a Farad LPS (a good LPS at this last stage does matter), then a very short run of ethernet to my streamer. The bang for the buck is large relative to just ethernet, at least in my setup.

I have an EERO mesh wireless system via ethernet to my Innuos Stream 1 streamer, and the results are excellent.  I have the EERO extender located about two feet from the Stream 1 and am using a DH Labs ethernet cable for the connection.  The quality is superb, and I doubt that going to the expense of running an in-wall ethernet line through the house at a significant expense would yield much improvement. A good WIFI system and a decent cable should be sufficient