dustcover up, down or off

You should listen and act accordingly but if you are not sure, I think it is better to leave it down. It can help guard against and reduce rumble/feedback from airborn sound waves eminating from speakers when that occurs. I do not know of a downside in terms of sound quality leaving the cover down on most all tables I've worked with.

FWIW, I keep mine down mostly though I do not hear an audible difference. Sometimes, for convenience, I take it off all together (yeah baby!) because my hinges are just not as taut as they used to be and the cover does not always stay up anymore on its own.

I've heard many a more mid-fi perhaps setup over the years produce audible, power draining, and clipping causing feedback with cover up and not with cover down, especially in lively rooms with warped records and no low pass filter.

Down is safer in this regard. THat's all I'm saying

I have not had this happen ever since acquiring the Linn Axis 20 years ago.

Higher end rigs are most likely inherently mre resistant to this so I would agree it is probably an issue with some tables and nt others.

I like the Linn better currently with the cover off, but still leave it on and down 90% of the time,

I have in wall wiring runing to speakers in other rooms, so it is pre much a non issue when listening there.

"Off, but with an acoustical screen around the TT."

Yes, I think I saw this on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" once when Geordi was playing his vinyl. He did not care for digital!

Seriously, I've seen tt covers that surround and enclose the entire table without being attached. I really like that idea!