Computer Audio Asylum: Well, it may not be a "player thing" as much as by Presto

...as the type of output plugin you are using. With the extigy you can definately use direct sound and likely can use Kernel Streaming.

For Windows Media Player you can only use directsound.
For Foobar or Winamp you could use directsound OR kernelstreaming.
These programs and plugins have been discussed to death here, and can be found by searching for FOOBAR KERNEL STREAMING or WINAMP DIRECT SOUND or something like that.

Since you have a SPDIF out on the front of the external extigy, testing for bitperfect playback (using a receiver with a DTS decoder) is a snap. You can google "DTS Bitperfect Test" or something similar.

Once you get both direct sound and kernel streaming both working you might find the differences between players and even various plugins start to fade. Some audiophiles here have indeed caught audiophile nervosa when it comes to PC audio and hear the difference when they switch to a different color drive tray. I'm not saying there are not subtle differences between players in you do things RIGHT, but I am saying if you do things WRONG the differences then become VERY audible. To me, getting bitperfect playback gets you 90% of the way there, and after that you can tweak and compare to your hearts content.

Cheers,
Presto