Mesh network versus a simple Wi-Fi extender

In my opinion having ethernet cables connecting WiFi access points is the gold standard.  The exact same data stream that your modem feeds your main router will be the exact same quality, speed that the router feeds your other bridged WiFi transmitters when tethered together via cat 5e or cat 6 ethernet cabling. If your router is getting 900 mbps, so will the next device in the ethernet chain. If your AppleTV is hooked via ethernet to that remote access point, it will be getting 900 mbps.  No degradation or slowing of data rates found in typical Wifi "boosters" or Wifi repeaters people place in different areas of their home.  That being said it may be near impossible in many cases to string that much cat 6 ethernet cabling unless you're willing to pay hefty amounts for someone to run it thru walls, attics, basements, etc.  Often needing drywall repair etc. Thankfully mesh wifi systems offer a good compromise in all but the most demanding situations. WiFi 6 (and later 7 and 8) will continually improve signal transfer quality and reliability.

@fuzztone  If the network is rock solid, the SQ probably will be fine. If not that is the first thing to improve.

 "probably" will be fine? So it is not all about the network then, or is it? Care to expand?
 

High quality streamers cashe and isolate, making up for deficiencies in bandwidth, latency and such. While admittedly I have been in IT most of my life, this comes from observation of my own streamers producing simply stunning, uninterrupted sound quality from cheap repeaters. Observation to me trumps theory. I recently took a EtherRegen out of my system that performed no useful function and with two high end Ethernet cables on it degraded the sound.

With very inexpensive streamers I believe the network reliability is important. But with contemporary high quality streamers, typically it is not that important.

Overall Wi-Fi extenders are terrible. A lot of them take a weak Wi-Fi signal and try to extend that signal further which further degrades the signal. The best Wi-Fi extenders use a wired connection but they are still use older technology.

mesh networks are so much better especially using the newer Wi-Fi 6e connection. I used to use 4 routers in my house in a wired/non-wired bridge mode setup with good coverage, plus getting decent speeds. I moved to a newer 6e mesh network and coverage is better using less equipment, and internal network speed (Wi-Fi and wired from each mesh router) has almost doubled in speed. I use switches attached to each mesh router so all the devices in each room think they are attached to a wired network instead of Wi-Fi. 

@rbstehno 

I use switches attached to each mesh router so all the devices in each room think they are attached to a wired network instead of Wi-Fi. 

So, in rooms where you have a mesh satellite, and where you have multiple devices, you run the hardwired output from the mesh satellite into a switch and then hard wire each device with Ethernet from the switch?  I assume if you only had one device you could run the hardwired output directly from the satellite into that one device for the same result?  I do this for my outdoor/garage system, which sits near a mesh satellite and have had reliable performance. The 6e systems are still pricy so I might wait for a while before trying that level, but after moving from a single router to a mesh system I have never had trouble with internet signal throughout three levels and several outdoor areas.