The stereo RTs I checked are compressed to 160 kbps. You can read all over the web about listening tests and comparisions. There are those that claim to be able to hear the difference between the 160s and the originals. I'm no fan of Microsoft WMA, preferring MP3, but will say that the quality of a 160 WMA is excellent. I believe it would be hard to consistantly distinquish from the original masters. I can't answer for the reverb issue in the audiophile version as I don't have access to them.

Rachael