Do stream quality vary depending on the medium that the stream is being played in? Say from vlc to perfect player to gse to stb emulator and finally to a dedicated stb?

Would a pixelated/choppy SD quality stream played in perfect player/gse be a better SD quality in stb emulator or a dedicated stb? I might eventually get a dedicated stb but wanted to know from people with first hand experience in this.

EDIT: Or if you take a mag/dreamlink out of the equation, would stream quality be better over one software over the other?