Turntable dust cover up or down while playing records?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Warren Jarrett, Jul 23, 2017.

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  1. Warren Jarrett

    Warren Jarrett Audio Note (UK) dealer in SoCal/LA-OC In Memoriam Thread Starter

    Location:
    Fullerton, CA
    I am just curious, do you leave the dust cover up while playing records? Or, do you put it up and down every time you play a record? And do you have reasons why one way makes more sense than the other?

    Of course, some dust covers are completely removable instead of having hinges. But I still want to know if you put the dust cover back over the record during play, or leave it off during play. And, of course, why?

    I know, I know, this has been discussed before, and usually ends up causing arguments and thread removal.

    :-popcorn:
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2017
  2. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    I've been putting the cover down on my Thorens TD 145 for well over 30 years now, I don't hear a difference, and would rather keep the dust off the record and table.
     
    Man at C&A, bluemooze and DigMyGroove like this.
  3. Wired4Fun

    Wired4Fun Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cary, NC
    My dust cover is separate, so I take it off for the listening session, return it when complete :)
     
    dbsea, TLMusic, shirleyujest and 3 others like this.
  4. malco49

    malco49 Forum Resident

    the dust cover on my pro-ject debut lll is removable.i do so during playback to avoid any possible vibration.
    if the cover was not removable i imagine keeping it up would minimize vibration.
     
  5. swvahokie

    swvahokie Forum Resident

    Down, but I own a Rega and it doesn't seem to affect it. I have owned tables where it very much mattered and I took the covers off.
     
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  6. H8SLKC

    H8SLKC Forum Resident

    Location:
    Boston, MA
    I play with it down on my UTurn and Fluance tables, but my Marantz TT-15 has no cover and I was worried about ramifications. There have been no ramifications, no more dust clicks and pops, and I no longer worry about same. I'm not even planning to buy a cover for it anymore. I've played the UTurn without the cover but don't hear a difference either way. Try it both ways and see which way appeals to you?
     
  7. PhilBiker

    PhilBiker sh.tv member number 666

    Location:
    Northern VA, USA
    I remove it when playing on the turntables that I own that have the ability to easily do so. Purely for aesthetic reasons. On my Technics linear tracker the tonearm is in the lid so I leave that one closed.
     
  8. Pinknik

    Pinknik Senior Member

    The VPI HW-19 originally came with a dust cover, but mine was broken at some point, so I'm currently dust cover free. Sadly, my table is quite dusty. Weird.
     
  9. sami

    sami Mono still rules

    Location:
    Down The Shore
    Off.
     
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  10. Chazro

    Chazro Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Palm Bch, Fl.
    With my LP12, I've listened with the cover up, down, and off and hear no difference. This being the case, I prefer to let the dustcover do it's job.
     
  11. Bob_in_OKC

    Bob_in_OKC Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dallas, Texas
    When I begin a listening session, my usual routine is - Start the turntable, remove the cover, turn on the CD player, then phono preamp, and then the integrated amp. When I'm done, it's all that in reverse. I very often even listen to a CD while the turntable is spinning.
     
  12. russk

    russk Forum Resident

    Location:
    Syracuse NY
    I have an RP6 and can take the cover all the way off but I also have dust and cats and kids so the cover stays on and closed at all times when I'm not actually putting an LP on the platter or flipping one. I have taken it completely off for a listen vs having it on and down and heard no difference. When it's up and playing the sound is a bit muddier with my Cornwalls filling the room at loud volumes.
     
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  13. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    Usually on, mostly so my kids don't grab the tonearm! :laugh:

    My previous Clearaudio 'table had a plexiglass cover that wasn't attached and didn't touch the 'table itself, so it definitely didn't make any difference in the sound. Now I have an SL-1200G with a hinged cover (through it's easily removed). It may make a slight difference in the sound, but I wouldn't want to be subjected to a blind test. I still usually leave it on (and down), but sometimes when I'm listening alone at night I leave it off.
     
  14. bluesky

    bluesky Senior Member

    Location:
    south florida, usa
    Dust cover up or down while playing records?

    Both, doesn't really matter to me. But... lately up. :)
     
  15. completely off and on the floor somewhere out of view :tiphat:
     
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  16. Old Audiophool

    Old Audiophool Forum Resident

    Location:
    Melbourne, Fl.
    I have a Marantz TT15 myself and I bought a material dust cover from Custom Dust Covers | Protective Equipment Covers by DigitalDeckCovers and have been very happy with it, fits like a glove. It was less than $40 with shipping and well worth it.

    Keep 'em spinning,
    Bill
     
  17. TLMusic

    TLMusic Musician & record collector

    I detach and remove the dust cover from my LP12 while playing records. The cover stays on the rest of the time.
     
  18. Veni Vidi Vici

    Veni Vidi Vici Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Long, long time since I played music through a contraption with moving parts suspectible to dust - but I used to have the cover down on my turntables, or removed and set aside if possible. What you want to avoid is having the cover up and then accidentally nudging it when you are playing a disc, so it slams down causing an almighty jump of the stylus. Not cool when that happens, not cool at all.
     
  19. Channel Z

    Channel Z Forum Resident

    Location:
    Illinois
    I leave my cover off during play. Why? because it looks way better than on. I keep it off the hinges so I just lift it up to remove. I put the cover on when not in use of course.
     
  20. Kristofa

    Kristofa Enthusiast of small convenient sound carrier units

    Location:
    usa
    I keep the dustcover off when I am using it. If it stays on for whatever reason, I keep it down.
     
  21. Chrome_Head

    Chrome_Head Planetary Resident

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA.
    Noticed dust was getting into my TT, even though it's shut 95% of the time, I was leaving it open when I was playing records.

    No more--I certainly do not detect a sound difference with it up or down in my setup.
     
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  22. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    Up or off.
     
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  23. Gavinyl

    Gavinyl Remembering Member

    In a closet somewhere...
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2017
    PhilBiker likes this.
  24. Up when using a record clamp: down when not. To be honest i cant really hear any difference when up or down. I like to think that a record clamp tightens the bass but it may well be just a placebo effect.
     
    bluemooze likes this.
  25. High Fidelity

    High Fidelity Well-Known Member

    Location:
    London
    I leave the cover up on my Thorens TD321 because if leaving it down after playing a LP, and then opening the lid,this can cause the tonearm to move and damage the LP unless one is extremely careful.
     
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