Audion has two Mp3 encoder options: the first from Coding Technologies and the second is PMLame (based on Lame 3.92). If PMLame (I haven't tried it yet) does a better job, I won't have to waste time learning a new interface.
I'm starting to wonder if my quality issues are related to hardware. OTOH, converting a CD to Mp3 may not involve much hardware. I think the program reads the audio track/file and converts it directly, right?
I don't think it's a hardware issue, as on my iMac any MP3s that have been encoded using Lame on the Amiga playback fine & clear, but when I use Lame to do the encoding on the iMac the sound & quality is not as good.
Can't quite put my finger on it, but the highs are a lot clearer and crisper when encoded on the Amiga version of lame...