Dust covers?

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Is it just me, or does it bother other people that so many modern turntables don't come with dust covers? I've never owned a table without one, nor would I really consider buying a table that didn't have one. I look at how dusty the cover gets every few days, and can't imagine letting that dust collect all over the platter or working parts of the table and arm.

Or am I just being too picky?

[dcc]

You are not. I had to order a custom made dust cover for my turntable. Luckily I found a workshop nearby my place. The dust cover goes over the turntable after eash listening session.

[Bobm]

I use a semi-clear plastic printer cover to throw over my rig. But then, it's in a dedicated basement room, so the aesthetics don;t need to be so nice. If it was upstairs I probably would have something nicer made.

[JCOConnell]

there are third party companies that satisfy the dust cover market. No need to have one come with your TT. Just buy an aftermarket cover.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Sorry JCO..that's not the point.

[jonathanb]

I've had covers made for my turntables and have wound up not using them as they all took up way too much space when I played records. I like the idea of using a soft cover like the one that comes with the KL Audio cleaner but I don't know where I could get one of those fabricated.

[Johnny Vinyl]

The only TT I've ever owned without a dustcover was my Nottingham Horizon SE. It did come with a "platter cover" however, but that didn't address keeping dust off of the tonearm, which I hate messing around with...even to remove dust. Since I wasn't prepared to spend hundreds on a custom-made acrylic one I used an empty cardboard box. Haha! True! I found one that fit perfectly.....problem solved!

[JCOConnell]

I bought an aftermarket dust cover that sits on the plinth of my VPI Aries-1. I believe it was made by Glinko.

[JackD201]

Early Air Force Ones came with big ass dust covers. Now they come with platter covers. I use the latter now.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

I like how Rega handled the dust cover on their RP8 and 10 models.

[JCOConnell]

I like how Rega handled the dust cover on their RP8 and 10 models.

and how was that?

[Steve Lefkowicz]

and how was that?

Their skeletal chassis doesn't have a dust cover, but the base it sits into that is isolated from the rest of the table but fits it perfectly, supports a proper tilting dust cover.

From Rega's web site:

De-coupled outer frame and dust cover

A common problem for many skeletal design turntables is the inability to incorporate an effective dust cover into the design. We have constructed an outer frame that minimises contact between the inner and outer plinth. The only points of contact are three location devices on the feet which centralises the inner and outer plinths perfectly. This makes set-up extremely easy and allows the use of a dust cover. The RP8 can be used without the outer frame if so desired.


The dust cover attaches to hinges on the outer on the outer framwe.

[Goheelz]

Once a week with a judicious feather-dusting takes care of any issues. IMO dust covers are less important for dust than for keeping stray or clumsy fingers off your analog rig.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Once a week with a judicious feather-dusting takes care of any issues. IMO dust covers are less important for dust than for keeping stray or clumsy fingers off your analog rig.

Agreed, but whatever the reason for it, I would have a hard time buying a new table that didn't have one.

[JCOConnell]

first of all, you need a removable dust cover because having one connected to the TT while playing a record, either up or down, degrades the sound. Secondly very few companies include a removable dust cover with their turntable, thus severely limiting your choice of product if you insist on buying with one included.

[mep]

There are certain tables that a conventional dust cover won't work on anymore. Old style tables have a rectangular plinth that you can mount hinges on the back of the plinth and have the cover close over the top. Take a look at the VPI Avenger and tell me how you could affix a regular dust cover to it. So basically with the aftermarket covers, you are buying a dust cover 'house' that encloses the entire table including the feet and possibly the outboard motor. And VPI aren't the only tables with minimal plinth designs these days. So, to rule out any table that doesn't come with an old fashioned dust cover may not lead you down the sonic path you wish you had taken.

Even back in the old days when everybody pretty much had a regular table with a dust cover from the factory, many audiophiles removed the dust cover during listening sessions for the best sonics.