Mijo, You wrote, "According to myself and Mark Dohmann it actually improves the sound by attenuating sound before it gets to the tonearm."
How would any practical dust cover attenuate airborne vibrations between the LP and the tonearm. (I presume when you say "attenuating the sound" you are referring to the music that can be heard faintly where the stylus meets the groove. Or if not, what?) My friend's Dohmann Helix was never dust-covered during use. I can't imagine any dust cover that would not potentially enhance the possible feedback effect of (musical) vibrations generated at the stylus tip. In previous discussions, you have already discounted this factor, as I am well aware. I am just wondering what Dohmann has in mind.
To the OP. I would ask whether your listening room is carpeted. If so, is it wool carpet or other natural fiber? Many times "we" are the culprits with static charge. Just walking up to the TT to play or turn over the LP may induce a static charge on our bodies which is present on the fingertips. Once we make physical contact, that charge will then be transferred to the LP. It's not a bad idea to discharge your body by touching something irrelevant that is grounded, before addressing the LP. Also, there is a kind of art to using the Zero; it's not just a matter of zapping the LP. The maximum effect depends upon using a certain technique. You might Google it.
