Need some help encoding mp3's

[funktion]

I never used an mp3 encoder before, but after my cd-rom drive damaged a cd I had I decided to encode a few of albums in mp3, so I don't have to put the cd on the drive everytime I want to listen to them.

I downloaded Music Match Jukebox 6.0 (the "basic", trial version) and encoded a few albums, but I'm not really pleased with the sound quality of the files. I encoded the tracks at 192kbps, 22kHz, with a very high processing level (slowest encoding speed, highest quality), but I get mixed results. One of the albums I encoded sounds nice (not impressive), but most of my collection is electronical-based (80's electronic pop, experimental music, ...), and they sound quite bad.
Also I encoded the singles compilation of The Clash, and when I compared the resulting mp3's with a couple of mp3's I had, not encoded by me (London Calling, for example), I noticed the files I encoded had a much worse sound quality.

I was wondering if you could give me a few tips about this. I wanted to know:
-what's the best encoder software around (I don't mind if it's slow, I prefer a slower encoder with higher quality)?
-should I try to encode the files as .wav, and then convert them to mp3?
-any other suggestions on how to improve sound quality of the files?

[.:Mouldy Punk:.]

I use Windows media player, either to encode to a mp3 or a wma file. If you want higher quality then record at 44khz. It may not be the files though, it could just be you speakers are too small or something?? with some speakers it sounds like rubbish, when really its the highest quality. I think you can get the best quality out of wav files, but they aren't practical because they are so big. I did one and it was 40-somthing mb just for one song.

[PsychoFreak]

I love The Clash. Especially, "White Riot"

[Mike22k]

i have something called CDex Rip~Encode dunno where to get it but i use it and its good. and i relise that this post wasnt much help ;)