View Full Version : Turntable plastic cover
magiccarpetride
31-03-2017, 17:24
My turntable comes with the plastic cover. Great concept for keeping dust particles away from the spinning record.
However, some claim that this cover serves as a microphone, amplifying certain frequencies produced by the speakers (typically, lower frequencies). The frequencies thus amplified by the plastic cover affect the tonearm, cartridge body and the stylus, and interfere with the accurate tracking of the record grooves.
So my question is: keep the plastic cover on while playing records, or get rid of it and accept the fact that the dust will collect in the grooves during playback?
RobbieGong
31-03-2017, 18:22
My turntable comes with the plastic cover. Great concept for keeping dust particles away from the spinning record.
However, some claim that this cover serves as a microphone, amplifying certain frequencies produced by the speakers (typically, lower frequencies). The frequencies thus amplified by the plastic cover affect the tonearm, cartridge body and the stylus, and interfere with the accurate tracking of the record grooves.
So my question is: keep the plastic cover on while playing records, or get rid of it and accept the fact that the dust will collect in the grooves during playback?
Lift the cover off when playing tunes, you dont need it on.
Airborne vibration and any vibration the cover / lid picks up feeds through to the deck itself and is picked up by the arm, cart, stylus etc and then amplified with the music - not ideal for quality replay ;)
MarginWalker
31-03-2017, 18:43
I do tend to take mine off when playing, unless there are kids around. Can't say I have heard much difference between on/off though.
On when not in use, off when playing a record.
I am too idle to take mine off each time I use it. It may only lead to some damage at some point too ,taking it on and off , I fear!!
Plus one - in that I hear no difference in on or off, but there again I am a Philistine
That's what matters, what do you hear? Play the same record with and without it. If you hear no difference then don't worry about it. Theory only goes so far.
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For my LP12 I am currently using it with lid on but raised but for a very long period I was forced to take it off because the previous hinges would no longer allow it to stay in position. Like others here I don't perceive any differences sonically in use that bother me.
For my Heybrook TT2 (currently my best sounding deck) I have the lid off for practical reasons. The deck is on a table and insufficient space above the deck to operate the lid. This does mean dust can be a problem.
For my other decks (purchased second hand) most have dust covers but some don't. If they come with a dust cover then I leave it on provided the hinges are in working order.
Jac Hawk
01-04-2017, 15:28
Good post Alex, i'm with most others here in that I can't really tell any difference
As much as i always take lid off if possible, the makers like Thorens as an example made decent decks with hinged lids, obviously for it to be kept on so i would imagine its not likely to make a lot of difference. I prefer lift off lids personally
magiccarpetride
01-04-2017, 17:55
Good post Alex, i'm with most others here in that I can't really tell any difference
Did a quick side-by-side comparison last night (same song with lid on, then lid off); I think I detect a bit leaner sound with lid off, but nothing majorly significant.
Warrants further research...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170402/0d8741fc9d68ff3cbd8a7e60d1629e6b.jpg
Dang cover cost nearly as much as my last 'table! It has to come off, but I have a damned problem finding a place to put it while I'm playing records? I don't want to scratch it, always a problem.
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magiccarpetride
02-04-2017, 15:49
[IMG]
Dang cover cost nearly as much as my last 'table! It has to come off, but I have a damned problem finding a place to put it while I'm playing records? I don't want to scratch it, always a problem.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I hear ya! The only reasonable solution is to build a cover for your cover.
I hear ya! The only reasonable solution is to build a cover for your cover.
Lol! Now why didn't I think of that? Maybe I'll buy a wall shelf to set it on?
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Idlewithnodrive
02-04-2017, 19:45
On when not in use, off when playing a record.
Exactly this :)
MarginWalker
09-04-2018, 20:53
Didn’t really want to start a new thread for this but I recently bought a new cover from a guy on eBay. He made it bespoke for me to my measurements for £72 posted. It’s brilliant quality, was really quick and packaged better than any piece of hi-fi equipment I have ever bought. I think it looks pretty nice too...
http://i68.tinypic.com/2uyoyv7.jpg
Didn’t really want to start a new thread for this but I recently bought a new cover from a guy on eBay. He made it bespoke for me to my measurements for £72 posted. It’s brilliant quality, was really quick and packaged better than any piece of hi-fi equipment I have ever bought. I think it looks pretty nice too...
http://i68.tinypic.com/2uyoyv7.jpg
Wow that’s a great deal! And looks “Museum Quality”!
Russell
Didn’t really want to start a new thread for this but I recently bought a new cover from a guy on eBay. He made it bespoke for me to my measurements for £72 posted. It’s brilliant quality, was really quick and packaged better than any piece of hi-fi equipment I have ever bought. I think it looks pretty nice too...
http://i68.tinypic.com/2uyoyv7.jpg
Care to provide a link? I am interested in having a couple of bespoke covers made.
RobbieGong
10-04-2018, 21:46
Didn’t really want to start a new thread for this but I recently bought a new cover from a guy on eBay. He made it bespoke for me to my measurements for £72 posted. It’s brilliant quality, was really quick and packaged better than any piece of hi-fi equipment I have ever bought. I think it looks pretty nice too...
http://i68.tinypic.com/2uyoyv7.jpg
So do I, looks perfect like it was made for it - result ! :)
walpurgis
10-04-2018, 21:49
looks perfect like it was made for it
It was.........Wasn't it? :scratch:
:lolsign:
RobbieGong
10-04-2018, 22:02
It was.........Wasn't it? :scratch:
:lolsign:
:lol: Meant as in looks like it came with the deck, original from factory type thing lol - It's been made bespoke so yeah, hence it fits perfect - doh :doh:
You'll have to forgive me Geoff, I'm high on music tonight :D
MarginWalker
11-04-2018, 07:12
The seller name on eBay is prdisplays and the guys name is Adie
MarginWalker
11-04-2018, 07:26
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 173251402823
FYI...............
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&_udlo=&_udhi=&_ftrt=901&_ftrv=1&_sabdlo=&_sabdhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=OX33+1TT&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&_salic=3&_fss=1&_fsradio=%26LH_SpecificSeller%3D1&_saslop=1&_sasl=prdisplays+&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50
(No affiliation to the seller)
Jim.
Mike Reed
11-04-2018, 13:57
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170402/0d8741fc9d68ff3cbd8a7e60d1629e6b.jpg
Dang cover cost nearly as much as my last 'table! It has to come off, but I have a damned problem finding a place to put it while I'm playing records? I don't want to scratch it, always a problem.
Think we have the same problem. Yours seems taller, but mine is a fair bit bigger all round (to comfortably cover a N.A. Dais). It's 5mm thick, and rests upon an armchair when t/t is active. When I had decks with hinged lids (LP12 & Rok. Xerxes) I had to take them off because wall shelves don't allow sufficient front to back space to open it properly.
That's a good deal, £72 (incl.?). My behemoth cost £75 from a local acrylics manufacturer as I made my own design but that was a few years ago. Part of the design brief was that it could support the weight of a cat.
Mike Reed
11-04-2018, 14:00
:
I'm high on music tonight :D
Ah, listening to Strauss's Alpine Symphony, eh?:)
Think we have the same problem. Yours seems taller, but mine is a fair bit bigger all round (to comfortably cover a N.A. Dais). It's 5mm thick, and rests upon an armchair when t/t is active. When I had decks with hinged lids (LP12 & Rok. Xerxes) I had to take them off because wall shelves don't allow sufficient front to back space to open it properly.
That's a good deal, £72 (incl.?). My behemoth cost £75 from a local acrylics manufacturer as I made my own design but that was a few years ago. Part of the design brief was that it could support the weight of a cat.
I guess I got taken, I paid a guy on Audiogon to make mine for some $230! I was a bit puzzled as to why it was so tall when I got it, but, it does allow me to add extra feet, or a Cloud 9 isolation platform in the future and still have some headroom.
My previous ‘tables had hinged lids, a Denon and a Project, but they weren’t tall enough to cover my record clamp so they had to stand open, and then I feared they were picking up airborne vibrations, so I took them off when playing. However they were small enough to lean against the stereo stand, this one needs a better place to rest. But, I must say it really does the job when in place. I could have bought the one that fits on the plinth, but I felt like this one looked more impressive. Maybe it does? But I do like that it keeps dust off of my accessories that I keep under the table. I don’t know if you can see them in the photo, but I keep my carbon brush, my digital scale, and my Zerodust, and a few wrenches under the ‘table for safe keeping.
Russell
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