Where do you put your LP12 lid when playing records?

Micro Seiki used the same hinges as Linn on the DD24S I started with. I found out when I repurposed them to attach the lid to the plinth I made for my Rock 2 and broke one. Russ Andrews was able to supply replacements.

I've tried using my LP12 with the lid off, lid on, lid up and lid down. I honestly can't say I noticed any meaningful difference to the SQ, so I now play my LP's with the lid on and down. Keeps the dust and cr*p off the deck and records.

There is a need to be careful if playing records with lid down, sometimes the lid is charged with static which can lessen the tracking weight, and if really bad can lift the arm up and stick to the underside of lid.

But if you really must, find an older LP 12 lid, they used to make them taller so more room between arm and lid underside. 

I nearly always remove the lid for the simple reasons of static risk, and also if used up it acts like a bucket to catch sound waves and deflect them directly down upon the deck, so lid up is not a good arrangement for airborne vibration isolation. 

Debs

I can't have the lid closed during playback as it touches the arm lift on the Aro, would make mincement of the stylus!

My hinges are an intereference fit to the lid so I simply open it and slide it out of the brackets on the plinth, it's easy to do.

My lid is an older type with more height, and my Aro finger lift is adjusted so it's not too upright, so there is some clearance on mine - but only 5mm or so.

But i never have lid down while playing, my hinges and lid are the only original part left from my purchase a decade ago, it's a good dust cover and cat protector but that's all. The hinges are so loose and worn on mine it's very easy to lift the lid off and stow it behind the armchair.

Another reason many don't play with lid up, is the transfer of a raised lid weight towards the rear of deck which can slightly affect the set-up level. Years ago i tested the tracking weigh with lid up vs tracking weigh with lid removed, and there was a slight difference.

LP12s tend to get set up without the lid so seems logical to remove it for play, 

plus it's slightly easier to load records, flip them over, take them off with lid removed

and looks far nicer and more photogenic without the lid 

Someone ought to invent a new type LP12 lid that simply covers the deck securely without need of hinges, simply lift off and away to play, and plonk dust cover back over when it's bedtime at 3 in the morning : )

Debs

Like the one in the new Planar 8? ????

I tend to close the lid when playing records. I can't say I detect enough of a difference to justify the hassle of removing it each time I play records. When the Aro was installed at Cymbiosis, Peter tweaked the arm lift so that it wouldn't touch the lid and there's now quite a gap to lid. Removing it is a tricky issue too. Should you lift the hinges out of the plinth or slide the lid out of the hinges? The hinges are pressed steel and there are burrs on the face adjacent to the plinth, which unless dressed accordingly, will scratch the plinth and since I have a Harban plinth I take extra care whenever the lid has to be removed.

Lewis posted:

I can't have the lid closed during playback as it touches the arm lift on the Aro, would make mincement of the stylus!

My hinges are an intereference fit to the lid so I simply open it and slide it out of the brackets on the plinth, it's easy to do.

Slightly adjust the finger lift - it should then be fine if you need to play it with lid down.

I mostly take the lid off (including hinges) and leave it on the sofa

The lid on my Rega P3 stays on all the time, when playing or not. Never heard any difference in sound when lid was on to when it was off. If Rega (or any other manufacturer) truly believed that keeping lid on during play affects the sound then they would have surely come up with a different (more practical) solution.

Chris Dolan posted:

Slightly adjust the finger lift - it should then be fine if you need to play it with lid down.

I mostly take the lid off (including hinges) and leave it on the sofa

Must adjust azimuth to compensate - just stating it to make sure it's not overlooked.

iliria posted:

The lid on my Rega P3 stays on all the time, when playing or not. Never heard any difference in sound when lid was on to when it was off. If Rega (or any other manufacturer) truly believed that keeping lid on during play affects the sound then they would have surely come up with a different (more practical) solution.

IIRC, Rega designed the hinges on the Planar so that the lid was easily removed and replaced.  

On the recent RP8 and RP10 they have actually designed the plinth in such a way as the outer part of the plinth and the lid are totally separated  from the inner plinth/deck, so you can use the deck with the lid in place (any which way you want) and any performance compromise is minimised. 

Mine used to be in the LP-12 box in the attic, but since Ivor Tiefenbrun autographed it a couple of years ago, it sits next to the LP-12, on proud display. My TT sounds like crap with the dust cover on it.

It does look better without the lid so I don't mind removing it during use anyway.

I can't have the lid anywhere near the record player when in use.  Seems like a terrible accident waiting to happen having the lid with it's limited movement permitted by the hinge arrangement hanging perilously over the arm and vinyl (and my fingers!).

Peter

Mr Frog posted:

Get a Rega RP10 instead and don’t worry about the lid at all .... on/off.... up/down...... no more worries at all because the outer plinth and lid don’t touch the turntable at at - cool design 

You could always bin the lid and use a bin liner (not the one containing the lid) as a great dust sheet for the Linn turntable.... just another exciting option 

Quite agree. The lid keeps dust off at all times meaning that using the RCM is just an occasional event. I put mine down when playing. You can speculate about whether it isolates the arm/cartridge from the speakers.

Phil

Down, on the  LP12 as per Ivor's instruction to reduce airborne interference. But for multiple listening sometimes, off it comes. Inconsistency is a human trait I am eager to learn, but find it difficult to contemplate, let alone understand.