Copying a CD so it's at the same quality

I want to copy a CD I own to make a backup so I can leave my original at home. Anyway I figure there's gotta be an easier way on the mac to just do a copy cd rather than importing at the highest bitrate and then burning with itunes.

Anyone help?

If you just copy the disc in any cd burning software you'll be doing just that.

you can rip the cd to wav files rather than mp3. that will retain the original cd quality.