Dust cover open, closed, or off?

05SRTguy

05SRTguy

Active Member
I've heard people mention that many TT's sound better with the dust cover off, but Rega recommends to close it to eliminate as much dust as possible. I was wondering if leaving it open would have the same effect as removing it completely or should I just leave it closed during playback?
 
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It's your TT ... I say whatever makes you most comfortable.
Try it without the cover - as many here will suggest - and listen .
Can you hear a difference ? Will you end up fretting about the dust?

I've tried both ways... but my gear isn't nice enough for any of that
to make a difference with the sound... or at least I could not detect any.

But my table (after a mod) is just dead quiet to my ears anyway, compared
to what it was before.
 
if I leave the cover open on my marantz turntables they feed back sooner.
I leave them down.
 
Off if it comes off easily.

Closed if it is hinged, open while playing is like a sound sail, it picks up the playback, especially at higher volume, especially low frequency, it tends to sound like rumble all the way to flat out feedback.
 
From my VPI HW-19 Mk. IV Owner's Manual

"We recommend that the dust cover be down when playing records. Under most circumstances this will result in cleaner sound since the cover acts as a "shield" against acoustic feedback. In extremely low acoustic feedback conditions, you may find that leaving the dust cover up or removing it entirely will be better."


I think all current VPI tables are sold dust coverless. Dust covers are offered as on option to keep the dust off. :scratch2:
 
I find in very high feedback situations (i.e. loud) the worst is to have it on and closed, next worst is on and up, and best is off completely. For most people it won't matter, feedback won't affect them either way. If I was like most people I would leave it down except for when I load/unload or clean a record.
 
My tables sit stored with the dustcover on (I have a big Fuzzy German Sheperd who distributes hairs generously), but when playing, they are open or off... I have found that the resonance of "needle talk" inside the closed dustcover chamber to far exceed the effects of feedback from louder volume levels, but a lot of this all depends on the placement/isolation of your TT from the soundstage of your system...
 
I have no choice, 2 of my TT's where picked up on CL and did not have covers. However, when they are not being used, they are both covered with a dust free cloth (black) .
 
Pair of Technics SL-1600MK2s. Cover open and sitting two feet from AR-90s. Never a problem, even at very high volumes. I guess it comes down to your particular setup.
 
Ive done all 3. Now, it seems I get the best performance with the cover closed during play. I don't know what changed because I used to leave the cover open or off while playing vinyl. Lately, for some strange unknown reason, I been getting alot less feedback with the cover closed. Oh well, whatever it takes to keep the gear happy I spose.
 
Interesting. I have never experience "feedback" from my turntable. I typically leave the cover attached and open during playback and closed when stored. It just seems a hassle to remove it completely just to listen and reattach when done. I only asked in case someone could tell me it was significantly better sounding or something else.
 
05SRTguy said:
I've heard people mention that many TT's sound better with the dust cover off, but Rega recommends to close it to eliminate as much dust as possible. I was wondering if leaving it open would have the same effect as removing it completely or should I just leave it closed during playback?
Click to expand...




when my turntable is in use, the dustcover is ALWAYS removed completely. rega's recommendation is their own. i remove the dustcover completely because i don't want it in the way when i'm playing records, and i certainly don't want microvibrations to be picked up by just leaving it up and open. those who say it's too much hassle....are you kidding me? on my technics SL-1200, LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS to remove it and less than five seconds to put it back on.
 
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I see absolutely no logic in attempting to keep records clean and then allowing them to rotate in the open air for about 20 minutes per side.

Doug
 
nailer said:
From my VPI HW-19 Mk. IV Owner's Manual

"We recommend that the dust cover be down when playing records. Under most circumstances this will result in cleaner sound since the cover acts as a "shield" against acoustic feedback. In extremely low acoustic feedback conditions, you may find that leaving the dust cover up or removing it entirely will be better."


I think all current VPI tables are sold dust coverless. Dust covers are offered as on option to keep the dust off. :scratch2:
Click to expand...

The '19 has an isolation base frame that supports the cover and the cover is fairly sturdy. TTs with the cover on the baseplate will probably pick up airborn acoustic vibration. Now, if I could only find a factory 4" cover for my Mk-III.
 
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