Haven't needed to upgrade my kit for a while, so I'm not sure what's available at the moment. Yamaha used to do a CD player with a hard drive to rip CD's onto. You could have the best of both worlds in one unit. I don't think that your amp really needs an upgrade, it's still a good model and amp technology hasn't really changed a lot in the past ten years. Maybe just add a power amp for bi-amping.

Maybe a misunderstanding there, you'll still get the surround channels, just not the .1 bass channel as a separate entity. The sub only handles the very low bass that monitors have trouble reproducing.

Parkesie is indeed correct, you'll need an active sub. A & B speaker settings are so you can run another stereo set for a multi-room setup. Put the plus cable from the sub into the same plus socket as your left or right front speaker and the minus into the same on the other side. You won't be getting 5.1 but you will get more bass. Try to tune in the sub so it starts working just as your speakers give up. Would recommend MrNutts Rel Strata, they are awesome subs.

If the sub has the same socket on it then you need a subwoofer cable. If not, run the sub cables out of the front L & R speaker outputs.

Quite impressed with the Sanderson Life. Sorry everyone, should have mentioned that I would need to fir a rack sometimes. Can use a seatclamp adaptor at one end, what options do I have at the dropout?

kiwijohn, up to about £500 max. Those Curtis frames look gorgeous, might have to keep saving or sell my mother.

Too Punk to Funk and Northwind, thanks for making an old rocker very happy. While I'm here, have another couple.
Mudhoney – In 'N Out of Grace
Veruca Salt – Seether

Orange 9mm – Dead in the Water
Helmet – Smart

You win my eternal gratitude if you've actually heard of these songs or artists.

Check out outdoorsmagic, they had some reviews of Carn stuff a while back.

My 2010 Deores have a terrible squeal in the wet, beware if like to ride quietly.

Only difference between the two models is that 100's are open back and the 200's are closed. Open will give a cleaner, more natural sound. The closed back increases bass response and cuts down on outside noise. I went for the 200's as I like to seal myself away when on public transport, you may not need this if you're listening at home.
Coming at it from a different angle, how about a new soundcard in the computer, a change in the front end of a system will make a much bigger difference to overall sound quality. Better headphones may just show you how bad the card is. For your Iphone, up the upload quality to 330kps to improve quality.
If you're going for 'phones, maybe try the Galactics, I really enjoyed these until the Pennine Way destroyed them.

Purple, for the inner Goth.

Are you using them for an Ipod or home system? For Ipod, Sennheiser PX200 are the best I've ever had. RRP £50 but sure you'll get them cheaper online. They've had 3 years hard use and hamfistedness and are still going strong. For home use, Grado are hard to beat, Beyerdynamic Galactics are a quality set as well. Most of them on your budget are designed for portables, so come with smaller jack, they all come with an adaptor though. If you go to a decent shop, they'll let you take your own CD's and listen yourself, trust your own ears. Bear in mind though, that like a car all audio equipment has a run in period and will sound better after about 30-100 hours use, depending on component.

slikgraphics.com

The Usual Suspects.

I might be stating the bleedin obvious, but if you just installed new cables and done a few rides have they stretched and just need adjusting?

If you're used to wet shaving then they'll all seem rubbish. I'm really ham fisted at shaving so always use an electric, a Remmington in the three circular cutting heads design. Not great, but gives an okay shave as long as you clean it out after each use, it cuts better if it's not clogged with yesterdays stubble. For many years I had a beard just to avoid shaving.

A bloody great pile of CDs.

Have a Cateye Micro Wireless. Good so far although maybe the display is a bit small. Has function for 2 different bikes and wheel sizes and auto detects them when you clip it on the bike. Wireless means no messy cables and zip ties and also means it's a little more crash resistant. Never had one with a cadence or heart rate monitor though, use it more as a navigation tool.

Enjoy yourself, you lucky sod. I dream of the day I get a phone call like that. I'd be expected to go into work even if the four minute warning was sounded.

If anybody dares to tell you it is wrong to have bar ends on risers, impale them on said bar ends and have them as a trophy. I have risers, bar ends and a really bad goatie beard and couldn't care what anybody thinks about me. Do your own thing, you don't need permission from anyone.

I've got to have some of those thumbshifters. Can you put up a link to where I can get the mounts please. Loving the dedication of this collection.

Nice one, found one of those in my parts bin when looking for tools when the new bike arrived. Also found a headset spanner ( inch and inch and an eighth ), a 14mm crank bolt tool, crank remover and fixed and adjustable cup spanners. I should probably mount them in a case and take them down the antiques roadshow. Can you still buy Spokey Dokeys?

Happy and proud to be a member of the club Wally. Have you noticed that purple anodising is making a comeback. It was considered a crime back in the day. Must start a retro thread for all these long lamented gadgets. Just to get started, Flex Stems, Hite Rites and Shark Fins.

Surely the problem lies with the pads and not the brake itself? Why not try a couple of different pads before shelling out on new brakes. Just got some of the kevlar type from superstar and they rock.

For a start in the world of camping, would really recommend anything from Vango, the prices are great and the products are brilliant, if not exactly top of the range.

I'm in the same situation as uponthedowns, just really having difficulty finding something new to get into. Used to buy new CDs every week but when I look back at what I've purchased over the last few years, it's all stuff that I missed first time around or from bands that I've followed since I was eighteen. I've become my dad and now think it " all sounds the same ".
I think this just happens as you get older, I find myself longing after the stuff that I had in my youth, I'd kill for an Orange R8 and a Hooch alcohpop.

Oh dear, you've got me started now, I'm a bit of a bivvy fan. I use a Rab Survival Zone bivvy, which is light ( about 350g ) and has stood up to 2 years of abuse. It has the disadvantage of having a drawcord closure rather than a zip, so in inclement weather you need to sleep on your front. Blacks down sleeping bag, light and cheap for a down bag. OMM duromat for mattress, this also folds to become the back support for the Classic 25L pack, saving weight and bulk. MSR Pocket Rocket stove and MSR Titan Kettle for cooking. Travel Tap for water purification, this fits nicely into a bottle cage. Other kit highlights include, Petzl Tikka XP headtorch, Berghaus Paclite overtrousers, OMM Kamleika waterproof Smock, Montane Litespeed jacket, Icebreaker Oasis crew tops, Endura Humvee shorts and a spare liner, Endura multi tights, an Ipod and as much dehydrated food as needed all packed up in Exped fold drybags. This stuff isn't for everyone, I've been lightweight backpacking for years and have gotten used to the discomfort that comes with most lightweight kit. Enjoy your bivvying, once tried you'll never look at a tent again.

Or any of B+W's small monitors, they are fantastic.

Get or borrow a Sony mobile and you can use the song recognition feature.

Second vote for the Gale monitors, they do sound best if positioned away from a wall though. If your putting them on a shelf rather than stands, isolate them with blu-tack or a couple of squash balls cut in half.

HDMI cables are certainly not all the same quality. I work in audio and can vouch for this. If you have a decent TV, it's worth spending a few more quid on a decent one. QED make some of the best at all price levels.

plumber, true, it won't kill me to wait until Tuesday, the problem is that I've already been waiting 2 weeks for it. If I want to call it a steed, surely that's my decision.

After washing, fast spin it about 3 times to get rid of all the water. Put a couple of tennis balls into the machine whilst doing this and it will stop the down clumping. Do not be tempted to remove the jacket from the machine while it is still full of water, it will be extremely heavy and it is really easy to damage the garment you are washing. Been using this method to wash down sleeping bags for years and never had a problem with clumping yet.

Bike was ordered via email so didn't actually speak to a human being at time of order. Website contains no details on bike delivery but does mention that parts are despatched same day. I was charged 30 quid for next day delivery which seems a bit of a cheek.

Don't bother. Convince your son that what he actually needs is an Xbox 360. Sony have let all their loyal fans down with the PS3, they won't pay for exclusive games or downloadable content and few software companies want to program for it due to the difficulty. They break, I'm on my third in 12 months and none of them has had a lot of use. Sony is currently making a mint out of bluray so seem happy to let PS3 fall by the wayside.