Sorry if this has been discussed before but I couldn’t find anything.
I usually play my records on my LP12 with the lid off believing it sounded better.
I have only very recently upgraded with a Klimax Radikal and Keel, before that I was using a Lingo 3 and original Cirkus sub chassis, the rest of my set up is Trampolin 2, Ekos 2, Dynavector 17D3, Naim Prefix HICAP.
With the current spell of hot weather, the windows are open and as I want to avoid any airborne dirt getting on my records I’ve left the lid on and I’ll be damned if it isn’t now sounding better!
I gather lid off should sound better but is that just the lid or lid and hinges?
Personally I’ve always played with lid on due to pets/kids/clumsy me - there are so many of these things we could A/B but do they really make a difference, or only with specific turntable siting?
Perhaps I should have been clearer, I meant lid on and closed when playing a record.
I’ve owned my LP12 since early nineties and in the main always used it with lid removed. However, as I said, I appear to have discovered by accident that it now seems to sound better ( and since upgrading to Klimax Radikal & Keel) with lid on and closed.
Strange,…a turntable (LP12) should be protected from vibrations.
A lid adds vibration.
Sounds it better with a lid,.so is there something that is wrong in your set-up,.installation…And,.or placement of your LP12.
I used to prefer mine also with the lid on.
A compromise - more ‘boxy’ coloration but reduced direct airborne vibration onto the disk.
The fact you can hear the music means it is not just structural.
Lid-on worked better with hearing low-level information in the mix, but did add boxy lid coloration.
Lid-off gave a cleaner sound but also favored the louder music over very quiet in the mix.
I just chose which I preferred depending on the music - more subtle intimate stuff - lid-on, otherwise off.
Interesting answers! A few years back, I would have said that the dust cover absolutely belongs in the attic. I’ve done upgrades since and will check again.
The dust cover has been upgraded as well, with Ivor Tiefenbrun’s autograph.
I have no choice - the arm lift thingy sits proud of the top of the arm to such an extent that lowering the lid would be a very expensive school boy error on my part!!
So the OP is wrong in his perception.
He is not allowed a personal preference - and nor is anyone else.
This is what goes wrong on forums - no ability to allow for others to hold a different view or perspective.
When the lid is on and ‘up’ = all bad - agree.
Mostly prefer off
Do prefer on some music closed and down - I used to also place a small weight in center to remove a vibration mode. You do hear the lid on, but it also lowers a range of acoustic feedback to the record.
It is not a big deal - if the OP likes it then he likes it and does not need to be scolded IMO.
Hang on! The OP does not like the lid on while playing, he is concerned about dirt getting on his record, and wondering about the SQ impact with the lid on. That’s why he started the survey.