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I'm an audio-video NUT. I've had several jobs as an AV technician or sound man and know a few things about the subject.

When it comes to MP3s most people simply don't understand exactly what kind of compression is going on. This is why I feel "compression" is a bad word to describe the data parsing that goes on in MP3 files. There is little to no DYNAMIC compression via MP3 files. There is DATA compression and psycho-acoustic masking going on, but the only dynamic compression I've heard is on a MP3 ripped from a digital "remaster" file or CD.

The only area dynamic range *might* be affected by mp3 is on lower bitrate(128kbps or lower) files. A lot of high-freq and some low-freq information is thrown away at or below that threshold, so you may reduce the dynamics of instruments occupying or reaching into those realms. On 192kbps and up, I honestly have not heard any such loss.

On another topic: Display Calibration.

First off, most "calbration" can be done by the user following the steps on a DVD or Blu-Ray. Most flat panel displays can be taken out of "Vivid" or Retail mode and the Custom mode will allow precise tweaking of each setting. Professional(back of set or service menu) calibrations costing hundreds of dollars are not necessary unless you have a set that no amount of tweaking seems to yield an accurate picture. Or, you just absolutely must make sure everything is adjusted optimally.

Secondly, unless you are color-blind or have trouble seeing things at normal light intensity, there is no such thing as "personal preference". Period! Your evening news reporter should not have rings around their eyes nose & mouth(sharpness) nor should their face color approach that of Barney the dinosaur or the Incredible Hulk(tint setting by eye - big NO NO!)

There is only one correct position for each setting(Brightness, Contrast, Sharp, etc.), and those positions will be determined by both test patterns and your local room viewing environment.

The goal of video calibration is to align your TV/Monitor/Projector with ATSC/NTSC source standards. Your TV will not add or detract from the signal and will display it as it arrived. You will see, more or less, exactly what movie producers and TV directors intended a program or movie to look like..

Video calibration exists for the same reason we have standards in architectu doorknob heights, widths of stairways, spacing between wall electrical outlets, etc.

-ChrisCoaster