That looks like the perfect solution Richard - as for me I’m just drooling over the Nakamichi’s… Pure audio art…
Wish they still made them!
JonathanG
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It’s not being synthetic or otherwise that is significant, but whether they are bad electrical conductors. I believe viscose rayon will induce a charge if rubbed on, say, acrylic, however I’ve never tried and don’t have any definitive knowledge, though I guess Mr Google might know.
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Oracle of Canada said that it’s better without the cover. I prefer the sound of my LP 12 without the cover. So I cleaned the lid, avoiding swirl marks and packed it away. To shield the table from dust while not in use, I just use a light piece of fabric.
To reply to Tony Manero’s original question, I have an RP8 and that comes with a cover that must be removed before use. It gets dusty, so there can be no doubt that it keeps dust off the turntable, but the mat is easily removed and can be shaken vigorously outside before use, and my experience is the arm and frame still get a wee bit dusty whatever you do.
If you have an RP 8, it is essential that you keep anyone of a house proud disposition away from it. Dusting anywhere near the cartridge can very easily bend the stylus. Rega do a great stylus replacement service, but that is a service best avoided if at all possible.
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I keep my lid down on my Gyrodec when not playing records. Keeping dust at bay is a good thing as it is much easier to dust the cover (and less dangerous) rather than dust all the metalwork etc. of the Gyro itself.
Since getting the Levis feet on the TT I just raise the lid as this is how I have set it up. The Levis feet will move wit lid down and alter the level stance with the weight distribution different. I could set the Gyro up without the lid and remove it each playing session. I have tried it both with just the lid up and removed and cannot detect any change in sound quality so I can’t see the point.
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I understand what you say, the cover is definitely useful for dust. Mine is purely a question of aesthetics, it looks nicer without a cover. Dusting it carefully once a week is not a problem. Congratulations on the P8, it is beautiful, maybe in the future I will buy it even if it is not cheap. For now I have the P3 that you see in the photo
I keep the Michell Universal dust cover on my Orbe when i’m not using it. If nothing else it keeps the dust off of the arm and platter.
I like a cover when the deck’s not in use. My Rock has a lid that attaches to a frame that sits on the Fraim cups and surrounds the deck without touching it, the, rather heavy, lid is hinged to this with Linn hinges, It needed a row of wheel balance weights along the back of it to stay up so that’s what it got.
I’ve lost the clamp and added a mat between these shots.
My Artimis didn’t come with a lid or cover, I had a cover made to go over it completely. Refitting it I caught the back of the counterweight after fitting a heavier cartridge, I’ve gone off this sort of cover.
When I was planning my PTP Lenco build I decided on a lid, looked around for ready made ones and selected one from a Project Xtension 10, which was well made but still quite expensive. I dimensioned my home made plinth to fit with space for two 9” arms. Sometimes I remove it but usually don’t bother and even play with it down, the plinth is massive and inert enough that it makes little difference.
I also have a Gyrodec and recently added Levis feet. I keep the lid on when not playing a record and just raise it when I do
Michell did say to me to take the lid off when playing but I cannot detect any quality change weather it’s up or off
I guess we’ll never know. Both vinylengine dot com and turntabley dot come agree that off is best but come down hard on different side of the up or down argument.
I do think the covers are ignored a bit in table design. For example, speaker grilles have evolved a lot over the years. We have arrived at easily removeable magnetic grilles that give seamless front baffles with easy attachment. But for proper five sided box dust covers, we generally still have those sliding clips which are annoying to deal with and if attacked at the wrong angle can damage the plinth.
IOW, why on earth haven’t they thought about magnetic dust covers?
I always use my deck with the lid down
It isolates the cartridge from the microphonic effect of feedback and also shuts up the chatter that can be heard from the stylus at pickup point.
If it wasn’t meant to be used it would have a lift off handle not a set of hinges. 
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Maybe they do not like the idea of magnets near a cartridge?
The edges of a lid aren’t anywhere near a cartridge. Further away than the motor even.
I am not sure about that as on my Gyro the motor is in the opposite diagonal to the cartridge so as far away as you can get. If there is a magnet on the front corners they will be much nearer and the right hand one within a couple of inches. but I guess it depends where the magnets would be placed
I can’t see the need for magnets if one designs a cover that just lifts off, gravity will help keep it in place when it is on.
Tried that. They get knocked into the arm very easily unless they sit entirely around the deck on the shelf. You need something to encourage them to stay put.
If you have direct drive. There are magnets right under the platter. It doesn’t cause a problem.
It does the job.
but if it’s not going to be used for a while then lid on. Should say that underneath the turntable is where you’ll find the most dust.
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But shielded by the platter.
Try some soft rubber pads.
If the cover was designed to just lift off it can be notched into the deck or slip over it to help stop it getting dislodged. Perhaps a hinge is not such a bad idea though.
Living in a big city in tropical island, dust is a big problem for my records, so it’s closed all the time for me
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With, of course, and not just one, but two.
A cover for my cover:
And a cover for my turntable:
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