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A dust cover may seem like an afterthought once your records are all set up and spinning. But after dropping cash on a turntable, it’s a no-brainer to protect your investment and keep it in crisp condition.
What Does a Turntable Dust Cover Do?
The most clear and obvious function of a dust cover is…you guessed it, protection from dust. Not only does it keep airborne nastiness from building up inside your turntable’s mechanics and on the surface, it’s infinitely easier to wipe off a dust cover than it is to clean your player’s individual parts. The best turntable covers slide easily over your existing unit, to also help keep out moisture and prevent things from knocking into the internal components.
Most of the latest turntable covers can be kept on, even while your record machine is spinning. Lift the lid to place your record on the turntable, then lower the lid keep the dust out. Your record player will work as normal.
Does a Turntable Cover Affect Sound?
Other than being protective, does a turntable cover affect the actual sound you’ll get out of your system? That’s up for debate. A good turntable cover prevents layers of dust from accumulating on the record player and getting inside its parts, which can start to reduce sound quality. It also prevents things from scratching your vinyls, making them sound wonky.
Some users report that after multiple hours of play time with the cover left on, the heat buildup inside could eventually start to affect the stylus, though this seems to be pretty uncommon. Depending on what your setup looks like and the type of cover, having it on during play could help reduce or absorb any unwanted vibrations, but the opposite is likely too – if you’ve got big, booming speakers, a hard cover can resonate from the bass, shaking up the turntable and the tonearm. This seemed to happen more with dust covers that are connected to the turntable unit by hinges, rather than unattached ones you simply place over it each time. In that case, we recommend taking the cover off while using your record player, and then putting it back on afterwards.
Another alternative is a soft cover, usually made from nylon or other fabrics. It’ll do the job of keeping dust away, but doesn’t compare with protection from damage. So if your house has curious cats and kids, or a party guest who places a drink too close, a hard cover is a better choice.
One last thing: covers are all different sizes and setups, so no matter what model of player you have or cover you’re looking at, check to be 100% sure that it’ll fit your unit.
