I have a larger than average turntable for which I ordered a hinged acrylic cover from stereosquares that is about an inch or so wider than the turntable. I gave them the dimensions including cable cutouts. The hinged portion is too heavy for wand to prop it up, though. Smaller turntables would fair better in that department. Otherwise is works perfectly fine, and I am happy with it.
dust protection for turntables
Most higher-end turntables do not have built-in hinged covers. So what do people use to keep dust off their TTs when they’re not being played? Those large molded plastic covers that fit over and around the whole plinth? A silk scarf from Hermes? What's the most ingenious solution you're used or come across?
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I use a feather duster...sort of...every now and then. No dustcover of any kind. I also place a round piece of thin plastic with a center hole over spindle to keep dust of my Stein music mat. The plastic came from the packaging of a record mat. You just need to be mindful of the stylus/cantilever at all times while dusting, not that big a deal really. |
I bought a used $30 radioshack smoke-colored hinged cover and I just let the hinge tabs hang off the back of my Dual 1019 turntable. It’s close enough that if I place it just right I can cover the table when NOT in use. When playing a record I just pull it off and lean it against the wall until I’m done playing records - like one of the original United Audio 1019 covers! Recently I bought some extra ebay plexiglass so that I could fine-tune the fitment. Plexiglass can be glued together by just wetting both pieces with acetone. I also bought a $10 DUAL aluminum logo to glue over the existng RS logo! I didn’t want to pay $150 for a custom clear plexiglass cover. |
I cover the platter to keep dust from cross-contaminating my records due to accumulation on the platter. I use an unloved Charlie Rich album given to me as the platter dust cover (I also have a "Benji's in Love" (remember that movie mutt?) picturedisc for this purpose). I also use an aluminum foil "hat" to cover the pivot area of my tonearm (see, tinfoil hats are not just for crazy people). Once in a great while, I wipe away the dust accumulating elsewhere on the plinth and other surfaces (I don't want the table's suspension springs to sag from the excess weight). Otherwise, I pretend that "dust damping" improves the sound quality. |
Mine would have to be 22 X14 X 16 (W D H) I doubt wifey would like it very much and I certainly don't want to deal with an acrylic cover that big. . Its not hard to dust it off with the paint brush which I keep. nearby. I also have an air tank which I can use to blow it off. No problem. BTW it beats that $6 canned air Then there is this which I have considered
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I have two very high end turntables, a TW Acustic Raven AC and Transrotor Fat Bob Reference. I use a fabric similar to silk but not nearly that expensive that I purchased at a fabric store, think it was Joanne Fabrics. Very inexpensive and works great. I cut it to size so it cover the entire turntable but you need to apply a type of glue around the edges to prevent it from fraying. I don’t know what it’s called but the fabric store sells it. And yes you need to take care putting it on and taking it off but with reasonable care you should not have a problem. |
@artemus_5 how is wood movement managed? That is a beautiful table though |
The problem with acrylic dust covers is that they easily become statically charged and then attract dust. You might say this is good as they pull dust up from the turntable but generally they just bring more dust into the area. Light cloth coverings can have nasty interactions with stylii... I have never had a big problem with dust. I have not used a cover since I sold my Linn in the mid 80s. I hold a carbonfibre brush against the revolving platter before I begin and against each LP side before playing. I don't see a lot of dust and hear very little noise. I rarely have to clean a record. |
Going from my memory, I believe the platter is a resin / epoxy with veneer covering, though not a thin veneer as normally sold in stores. There is also a sensor on the bottom of the platter which reads a strobe and sends to a micro processor which controls the speed. Also I suspect the wood is very stable by nature. Hard Wood is not as unstable as some think once it is dried and kept in a climate controlled environment. Also the Platter and plinth have lead in them for dampening. Then too, the motor is DC which is battery powered. It is well thought out and executed. |
Hi we provide Polyurethane turntable cover with custum size and custom hardness Contact us on https://polyurethanepu.com/ |
@huang I mistyped. Tap Plastics. They have local stores across the US. |
