do players like Foobar improve sound of internet

What is the biggest competition to Foobar?

Deadbeef

>> It's even a bigger divergence potential than with record players running the gamut in sound quality from the cheapest ceramic cart players to the finest setups possible. <<

Sorry, I ain't buying this. The differences between player software are marginal at best. Comparing a cheap-o Close N Play and a $100,000 turntable and cartridge rig to the differences in file streaming players is the worst sort of hyperbole. Please stop the ridiculous verbiage...

-RW-

RL,

Have you tried them all? With all possible configuration options?

Choose your analogy but I can assure you as a software/systems engineer with many years of experience that anything is possible and the specific reasons why there is a difference in any particular case may be buried in the implementation and never be known.

What one finds in practice may well be less divergent. Sticking to programs/devices designed to sound good is the best way to avoid clunkers. Same as buying better gear from makers that design with the goal of good sound in mind.

Mediamonkey is probably the worst I have heard so far but I have only listened to a handful via my main system where the differences can be easily heard.

Also realize that if you start off with a clunker streamer/player, nothing much else you do in a traditional sense to tweak the sound will help much, including a better DAC or connection to source. So there is potential to waste a lot of time and money with some software players/streamers.