[matanrubin]

I was hoping the course you recommend would be available for the general public, but at >$1000, this is a no go. I would happily pay for something like this, but not this much. Can anyone recommend an affordable equivalent?

[chipotle_coyote]

Harman Audio created a free "How to Listen" application years ago for both Mac and Windows, which "consists of a number of training exercises where different kinds of timbral, spatial and dynamic distortions commonly found within the recording and audio chains are simulated and added to music." It isn't about MP3 compression specifically, IIRC, but it's a good critical listening course.

But: while it's still available, it's about ten years old, and I have no idea if it still runs on modern hardware.

http://harmanhowtolisten.blogspot.com

[wyre]

https://pae.izotope.com/ is a good resource

[liminalsunset]

There's a $8 or so app called hearEQ that trains you on the pink noise or music part of this I think.