I have a Shimano WH-R560 prebuilt front wheel on one bike:

Shimano provided hub
Shimano 24 mm deep rim.
16 straight pull, 2 mm bladed spokes, radial laced.
700-23 Vittoria Rubino Slick tire @ 105 psi

I have a Colorado Cyclist provided wheel on another, similar bike:

Campy Chorus hub
Mavic CXP-33 24 mm deep rim
32 spokes DT 2.0/1.8/2.0 db, laced 3X
700-23 Vittoria Rubino Pro @105 psi

If I couldn't see these wheels I could not tell the difference between them while riding if you paid me. Perhaps, as fietsbob said, it is the tires or the route you took.