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How important is dust cover?

jazzzman

jazzzman

Active Member
I am looking for a vintage turntable and have seen some nice tables that either have no dustcover or a broken dustcover. Should I disqualify an otherwise nice table on that basis? I seem to recall that it is better practice to close the dustcover while playing a record to isolate the cartridge from noise in the room and from the speakers. Is that true? I play music at pretty moderate levels. Anybody's experiences would be apprecieated.
 
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If it's an otherwise good turntable in good condition, there'd have to be something you could do for a dustcover, though you might have to improvise.

I used to play with the dustcover down always, until one day I was cleaning off the top by gingerly wiping with a cloth while a record was playing. It didn't affect tracking at first, but then the music started to sound odd, and then the tonearm raced across the record face. The static electricity from the wiping had attracted the tonearm/head shell so strongly as to lift it clear off the record.

I also did a little experiment with a Shure stylus force gauge. I balanced the tonearm/cart with it with the dustcover up, then gently lowered the dustcover. The gauge went out of balance and indicated a lowering of tracking force.

From then on, I paid serious attention to static electricity on the dustcover and its effect on traking force. Now I play my records with the dustcover up.
 
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Dustcover up while playing. No vibrations and echoes.

Replacement dust covers can be found. I believe there is an AK sponsor that makes covers.

Ken
 
Some tables were never made with dust covers.. You can always just lay a towel over them.. HOWEVER.. be VERY careful when removing the towel..
 
I think a dust cover is a crucial part, and I definitely use it when I play records. Dust is a big enemy of records and styli. Never heard or witnessed any ill effects from using it, been doing it this way since my first turntable with a dust cover, a Garrard Lab 80 in 1967, 42 years ago.
 
Dustcovers down for dust sake. A big problem in Phoenix. I even store my felt pad/carbon fiber brush face down otherwise dust settles on that.
 
Dust covers stay on here, when the TT is not in use. They come OFF completely when the TT is actually being used. Sound quality is better when records are played without the dust cover, IMO.
 
Dustcover on while not in use due to cats, off while in use. A little experiment of mine found my TT to sound better with it off, the worst when it was up.
 
Ditto for the above. I noticed on eBay looking at tecnics tables that you can buy a vinyl-type cover (foldable) for them. These would probably fit nearly any table.
 
Down always. My setup sounds the same with the dust cover on, or off. So i keep it on so dust doesnt collect on my records.
 
UMmmmmm,seems to be a matter of personal taste to me,do what feels right,to each his own I guess.......................
 
Dust cover off when playing.

If you don't have one for use when not playing, have one made out of stiff slipcover material. Unlike floppy cloth, it won't catch on the stylus.
 
I don't really like dustcovers. One reason is the sound quality, I can see a slight difference when on while playing records. Also with time if you leave it down a lot it tends to leave a mark(shade) around the perimeter on the TT specially if you have a wood plinth TT, that is because the light hits it and fades the color. I know that is something that happens in the long run , but it does. So for me no dustcover, just a good quality fabric to cover my TT's.
 
Dustcovers (DU) are the number one source of audio feedback into the TT for most folks. Open reduces the contact between the DU vibrating and the TT base to two points (the hinges). Off reduces it entirely. If the TT is away from the speakers and you are playing a conversational levels, prolly no bigee? But, if you crank the volume and the TT is near, or even in line with the speakers, it's going to matter.
 
A lot of earlier turntables, even some really good ones, came with dust covers that weren't hinged. You dropped them on when the TT wasn't in use and removed them when it was. I think it was recognized that, even in the raised position, a dust cover could be a source of unwanted vibration but eventually user convenience prevailed and hinged, more or less permanently installed dust covers became the rule.

John
 
BrocLuno said:
Dustcovers (DU) are the number one source of audio feedback into the TT for most folks. Open reduces the contact between the DU vibrating and the TT base to two points (the hinges). Off reduces it entirely. If the TT is away from the speakers and you are playing a conversational levels, prolly no bigee? But, if you crank the volume and the TT is near, or even in line with the speakers, it's going to matter.
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My first hand experience exactly. If the turntable is in the same room as your speakers and you have enough SPL, you will be able to hear the resonance.

I play with cover off, cover on when not playing.
 
I have the dust cover on while not in play and off when it is in play and in fact I remove it when I'm playying cd's and remove it from any area that may cause issues relative to reflection...that said I would always try to buy a table with it's dustcover. I wouldn't pass on a classic just because the dustcover is missing but with a run of the mill table I'd pass.
 
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