Not necessarily true. Sound quality from a CD can range from lossless, near-analogue quality to absolute lossy rubbish, depending on format and compression algorithms. Longer albums tend to suffer in quality. Files are just data; the format dictates what, if any compression algorithms are used. For example, a 32bit MP3 encoded @320kbps compression will sound almost perfect without diving deep and scrutinizing with audiophile gear or wavelength viewers, while keeping file size relatively small for the quality. Adaptive compression like v0-v2 MP3s encode less silence and noise to further shrink the file size while maintaining audio quality almost on par with 320. MP3 is a lossy format (it always utilizes compression), but can range from dogshit to really quite fantastic. MP3 @320 is my preferred minimum quality. Straight internet releases of masters in lossless formats like FLAC are as perfect as you can digitally get, but to fit on a CD it needs to be transcoded to WAV files (can be a lossless format, but compression is often needed to fit tracks on a Redbook CD). In short, CDs are just a storage medium and the data on them is identical no matter what it is stored on. What really makes the biggest difference, aside from file type, are the quality of software and hardware DACs. Final Edit: As for OP, try using Foobar2000 for your ripping needs; it matches your disc against its database and will correctly rip and name your files. You may need plugins to get the right encoding tools of choice, though. LAME is good for MP3, and I think Foobar can do FLAC by default. Also, most modern discs cranked out by a reputable record label *do store* that info.