Turntable dust cover: Up or Down

My VPI TNT-5 HR did not even come with one. I had to special order a 2-piece dust cover which does not have hinges. I take the top off for both convenience and sound.

 

With my previous turntables, I always played records with the dustcover up. However, with my new Rega RP40, I'm finding the records sound better with the cover down.

 

I could hear the dust cover on my Sondek Lp12, so I suggest, take it off.

 

Off of course

 

Down. Cats. 'Nuff said.

 

off eliminates possible vibration from dust cover

 

Dustciver always on

 

Always down. Can't hear a difference.

 

Decades always down till I heard it with cover off. Now always off! NO contest!

 

One of my tables has a telescoping cover, so the back half is always in the "down" position. Yes, even while changing discs. With that table, I have it open or closed (on the front half) depending on my mood. My other table has a hinged cover, and I alway leave that one up while playing a disc. I have cats, and they don't jump up onto an open cover. They only jump on the table with the cover down.

 

Dust cover removed completely

 

I once did a little experiment to measure whether my Music Hall MMF-7 table was picking up more feedback with the lid on or off. I set the stylus in the groove of a record but didn't play it. Then I played some music from my CD player at high dBs and recorded the output from the turntable with the lid on, off and up. I got the least amount of acoustic feedback with the cover off, the most with cover on and up. But the differences were very small, probably not worth worrying over one way or another. I usually take the lid off if I am needledroping or doing an extended listening session with many records. Otherwise I leave it on but down. I can't say for sure whether I hear a difference one way or the other.

Of course these results are specific to my table and set up. Results might be different for a table with a really heavy acrylic cover, or sprung suspension, or set up in a different position relative to the speakers, etc., etc. It's an easy enough experiment for anyone with recording capability to do with their own set up.

 

That's my house all the time, even after I dust, so cover down when playing - esp after I spent 20 minutes of doing a multi-cycle RCM cleaning - by the time the stylus would get to the last track it would look like ^.

 

I've tried and can' t tell the difference, but whatever works for you.

 

I like to see the record spinning

 

Gee, I have a Linn......what does the cover sound like? Does it make noise without a record playing?

 

Never even took the dust cover out of the box... I use a plain silk scarf over the TT when not in use.

 

Always up, but not why you might think. I have a "Q up" ( http://www.thequp.com/ ) and it lifts the tonearm high enough that it would hit the dust cover if it were down.

 

Up, I have used it that way for 34 years and it seems OK

 

Completely off. Do you have sex with your clothes on ? Just sayin.

 

Those who remove your hinged dust cover, what do you do with it?
Do you put it back on the hinges every time when you are done listening? Do you just place it back on top of the table without putting it back on the hinges? Id be worried about damaging it by installing it on the hinges every time etc. etc.

Just curious because I may try it.

 

No, but sometimes its over the covers!

 

I wouldn't bother taking the cover off my Thorens so I just play with the lid up but the Rega tables are super easy and fast to remove so I'll always do that.

 

I've owned my P25 for 15 years and remove the dustcover everytime, no problem with the hinges or dustcover...

 

You reattach it after youre done listening? Or you place it on top?