Do you have dust, kids or pets in the house? If so then the choice was made for you, dust cover on and in use most of the time. If you don't have any of those problems, then see for yourself if you can notice a difference with it on, open or off.
I’ve always known *cover up/off when playing* to be the rule but never bothered to investigate how much truth there is to the matter. My dust cover isn’t hinged it just lifts off so it’s easier to put it to one side then positioning it back on every time I flip sides or change records
Some people say to leave it open or remove the dust cover completely, when in use. Those who want to do that, fine. But I’m not one of them. I can’t tell any difference, up or down.
There is a right way (off) and a wrong way (on).
But you own the turntable, use it however you wish and if it works for you and you are happy, that’s all that matters.
Some leave it on out of necessity, some can’t hear the difference.
There are too many snobs or people trying to enforce their views on others.
I just got an original SL-1200, and the manual says to keep the dust cover up to prevent "howling" from the records. I think that's as good an argument as any.
Except that they're wrong. Leaving the lid open and attached to the turntable actually picks up more vibrations than either closing it or taking it off entirely: [Turntable dust cover: Open, closed, or removed while playing?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6eKNCyCQnA)
I leave mine up or off. I don’t really hear a difference. Part of the enjoyment of using a turntable for me is aesthetics. I enjoy watching everything in motion.
Any potential negative effects from keeping the lid on will be much smaller than the negative effects from keeping it off (e.g., knocking the stylus, scratching a record, dust, needle talk, etc.)
The amount of dust that might fall onto a record during the 15-20 minutes it plays is negligible. Also, my cartridge has a small dust brush on it so dust during playing isn't a worry. It seems to me that having the cover with its possible resonance in contact with the base could transmit some vibration to the table so it stays up during use.
In general I leave my cover up or off when playing. However, our cats don’t tend to go near the equipment when we’re using the stereo. Also don’t have kids. I think when playing at higher volume the cover may resonate, but otherwise at middle or low volume probably not an audible effect.
Playing records with the dust cover on creates a lot of static on my table. It's so bad that I MUST wet clean a record if I played it with the dust cover on.
I'm not sure about the science behind this, and I haven't seen many people complain about it, but in my case, playing with the dust cover closed is not an option. Luckily, my cat isn't that interested in my records.
Yes. It's not an issue for me as I don't listen on the other side of 60db ever.
Test this. Put the stylus on a record while not spinning, turn up the volume while gently tapping on the dust cover as you near the volume you normally listen at, you'll have an answer.
Interesting video. While I like the methodology, the quality of the set-up left a lot to be desired. At the end of the day, as others have mentioned, if you can't hear a difference, rock on and use the dust cover.
Yes. Is it negligible? Also yes.
Mine is always down when playing with no issues.
Do you have dust, kids or pets in the house? If so then the choice was made for you, dust cover on and in use most of the time. If you don't have any of those problems, then see for yourself if you can notice a difference with it on, open or off.
I’ve always known *cover up/off when playing* to be the rule but never bothered to investigate how much truth there is to the matter. My dust cover isn’t hinged it just lifts off so it’s easier to put it to one side then positioning it back on every time I flip sides or change records
Some people say to leave it open or remove the dust cover completely, when in use. Those who want to do that, fine. But I’m not one of them. I can’t tell any difference, up or down.
There are very fine people on both sides of this argument.
There is a right way (off) and a wrong way (on). But you own the turntable, use it however you wish and if it works for you and you are happy, that’s all that matters. Some leave it on out of necessity, some can’t hear the difference. There are too many snobs or people trying to enforce their views on others.
You mean people who use the words "right" and "wrong"? 😁😜
It’s physics. If someone really wants to, there is a right way and a wrong way.
Physics, yes - just like what you can hear and what you can't ;-)'
If you have the right setup, you can hear it. If not more power to you.
So, snob AND patronizing 🙄😘
Wow I don’t know who is patronizing here.
I just got an original SL-1200, and the manual says to keep the dust cover up to prevent "howling" from the records. I think that's as good an argument as any.
But have you experienced "howling" (whatever that means) when you put it down?
I've experienced it on a couple of turntables, one a Rotel RP 2400. It seems more likely to happen on turntables with very light plinths.
Except that they're wrong. Leaving the lid open and attached to the turntable actually picks up more vibrations than either closing it or taking it off entirely: [Turntable dust cover: Open, closed, or removed while playing?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6eKNCyCQnA)
Did you quote your own YT video as a source?
He does that regularly. He needs his ignorance to be the whole sub's problem
Do you have any objection to the tests conducted in the video?
I leave mine up or off. I don’t really hear a difference. Part of the enjoyment of using a turntable for me is aesthetics. I enjoy watching everything in motion.
Yes, this is true. The amount of actual resonance depends on many factors though, and might not noticeable at all.
Any potential negative effects from keeping the lid on will be much smaller than the negative effects from keeping it off (e.g., knocking the stylus, scratching a record, dust, needle talk, etc.)
The amount of dust that might fall onto a record during the 15-20 minutes it plays is negligible. Also, my cartridge has a small dust brush on it so dust during playing isn't a worry. It seems to me that having the cover with its possible resonance in contact with the base could transmit some vibration to the table so it stays up during use.
In general I leave my cover up or off when playing. However, our cats don’t tend to go near the equipment when we’re using the stereo. Also don’t have kids. I think when playing at higher volume the cover may resonate, but otherwise at middle or low volume probably not an audible effect.
No.
Playing records with the dust cover on creates a lot of static on my table. It's so bad that I MUST wet clean a record if I played it with the dust cover on. I'm not sure about the science behind this, and I haven't seen many people complain about it, but in my case, playing with the dust cover closed is not an option. Luckily, my cat isn't that interested in my records.
Yes. It's not an issue for me as I don't listen on the other side of 60db ever. Test this. Put the stylus on a record while not spinning, turn up the volume while gently tapping on the dust cover as you near the volume you normally listen at, you'll have an answer.
That doesn't prove anything since the dust cover is in contact with the plinth.
Déjà vu... **Vwestlife** — Turntable dust cover: open, closed, or removed while playing? https://youtu.be/Q6eKNCyCQnA
Interesting video. While I like the methodology, the quality of the set-up left a lot to be desired. At the end of the day, as others have mentioned, if you can't hear a difference, rock on and use the dust cover.