How are the speakers?

I'm planning on buying a Dell with a similar system config to yours, and the only part I'm not sure about are the speakers. Do the software controls for the ACS-495 work well? I'm a little hesitant to buy speakers that don't have a volume adjustment knob on them and that can only be adjusted through software. Software fails. I'm sure the sound is great...I'm just wondering about the interface. thanks a lot Mike >Well at long last, lots of research, and questions answered by the good folks

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>of this NG I finally made up my mind. >I just hung up the phone with Dell after ordering a: >Pentium II 266 >6.4 gig wide dma HD >Awe 64 >17.9 in viewable monitor >Altec 495 surround sound w/ sub woofer >24x CD >STB 4 meg AGP video (will get a better card when new ones come out) >standard software package >I'm not bragging by no means-- I've been racing N1 while you guys been

tearing >up the track on N2. The ol' 486 just couldn't handle it with more than 15 cars >no graphics. >At any rate thanks to those who answered question for me, I appreciate it!!! >It's gonna take a few weeks to get it but, I've been waiting for 4 years what's >a couple laps, ...I mean weeks ;) >R. Faust >aka Xducer

Mike, I'm not sure about the 495 speakers, but I got the acs 490 speakers with my system Dell system,and they are great. I also have volume control, center control, surround sound control, and subwoofer control on the speakers themselves. -- Don Burnette Music City Racing Dburn on Ten

I am not familiar with the 495 speakers, so can't speak for them, am very happy with the 490. If the 495's only have software control, I'd go with the 490's, my personal preference anyway. -- Don Burnette Music City Racing Dburn on Ten

: I'm planning on buying a Dell with a similar system config to yours, and the : only part I'm not sure about are the speakers. Do the software controls for : the ACS-495 work well? I'm a little hesitant to buy speakers that don't : have a volume adjustment knob on them and that can only be adjusted through : software. Software fails. I'm sure the sound is great...I'm just wondering : about the interface. thanks a lot : Man, spend the extra cash and get speakers with a hardware control. Your life will be much more pleasant. Whether you are playing NASCAR, listening to a CD or whatever, there is nothing more frustrating to me than having to click on the little volume icon and then slide the slider with a mouse. Volume should be adjusted with a big fat knob (although I'm sure some people will tell me that there is already a big fat knob adjusting my volume). Now, if someone could also get the message to car stereo manufacturers. Stephen

I went to www.dell.com and checked the ACS-495 speakers. In the suport section of Dell you can see all the specifications, graphics, photos and troubleshooting FAQ's. Actually the ACS-490 and ACS-495 are complitly DIFFERENT speakers. Just go and check them. Different form. The 490 are only stereo soudn system. The 495 ones are Full Dolby Surroun speakers with 3D-sound and plenty of kewl features. The volume can be adjusted on the pc AND on the speakers. It's not only Volume on/off Bass and Treble. You can change about 15 different things on the speaker (not software) and you can have 3 different sound type, from *** to music, etc... You can have speakers on Surround mode, Prologic, Stereo or Maunoral. Those can't be done on the ACS-490. I know now why the 495 are like over 300$. They are deffintly a step higher than the 490 (but still the 490 are AWESOME !!). Kewl feature for us, the gamers. If you try to adjust the sound by the software, and you are playing in a full-screen game, the speakers WILL know that you are playing and you will not be able to switch the sound on the software. You call change soooo many things on the speakers. There's LCD on those that indicates different modes. You can change the sound for each individual speaker (4speakers and subwoofer) on the right speaker. This is very kewl. It is probably the biggest subwoofer I never saw. It's like big as a micro-wave ! ! :-) Fran?ois Mnard, "ymenard" on NROS sponsored by http://www.awpss.com/ >I'm planning on buying a Dell with a similar system config to yours, and the >only part I'm not sure about are the speakers. Do the software controls for >the ACS-495 work well? I'm a little hesitant to buy speakers that don't >have a volume adjustment knob on them and that can only be adjusted through >software. Software fails. I'm sure the sound is great...I'm just wondering

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>about the interface. thanks a lot >Mike >>Well at long last, lots of research, and questions answered by the good >folks >>of this NG I finally made up my mind. >>I just hung up the phone with Dell after ordering a: >>Pentium II 266 >>6.4 gig wide dma HD >>Awe 64 >>17.9 in viewable monitor >>Altec 495 surround sound w/ sub woofer >>24x CD >>STB 4 meg AGP video (will get a better card when new ones come out) >>standard software package >>I'm not bragging by no means-- I've been racing N1 while you guys been >tearing >>up the track on N2. The ol' 486 just couldn't handle it with more than 15 >cars >>no graphics. >>At any rate thanks to those who answered question for me, I appreciate >it!!! >>It's gonna take a few weeks to get it but, I've been waiting for 4 years >what's >>a couple laps, ...I mean weeks ;) >>R. Faust >>aka Xducer

I'd just like to thank everyone for the info they've posted....its been most helpful!!! Mike