Wildouts - you need not get a headache with computer audio. iTunes is FREE. You can easily rip CDs using iTunes and code to AAC at a MINIMUM of 256K or 320KB rate. Just make sure that error correction is turned on in iTunes.
On the other hand, I listened to a few CDs last night on my $25 Sony Playstation One (PS1) and it sounded incredible. It's a great time to be a music lover and and audiophile.