I am doing the same - my extender is connected to the mesh network and then I have an Ethernet cable to my smart switch.
PI2AES->Blue Jeans HDMI (I2S)->GUSTARRD x26 PRO->2x Audiophonics HPA-S400ET monoblocs->B&W 804N speakers, Sommer CarboCab interconnects and Van Damme Black Speaker Cables, Leo Bodnar GPS Clock feeds into x26 Pro.