I personally like Media Jukebox with the Lame encoder plugin set to VBR high.

The stuff I started ripping recently with that program, sounds infinitely better than the stuff I ripped previously with musicmatch. Could be just because of the Lame encoder, but I like some of the other Media Jukebox features too. They (also) have a great online community, and the developers post and listen to the customers.
And I'ts only 24 bucks.
http://www.musicex.com

Just my .02 cents USD.

Z~