If you post this over at the "Audiophiles" section here at LYN you will undoubtedly get a completely different response from the two above.

On that subforum; you've got a whole bunch of people who for some strange reason feel that having a couple of hundred bucks worth of computer soundcard; combined with a few more hundred bucks worth of computer speakers; buys them entry into the "audiophile" ranks. They will therefore insist on "loss-less" audio formats.

Methinks its all crap. On your MacBook on the Klipsch; iTunes will handle your ripping duties very well.

A hilarious read (It's a review of the H-K SoundSticks II) which parodies the audiophile review may be found here: http://www.atpm.com/10.04/soundsticks.shtml