Ok guys

"...so that it could be opened to actually place an album on the platter and then play it open or closed and see which they prefer" (uberwaltz)

Thanks for the BFO, uberwaltz. Any other other pearls of wisdom?

"Look, it's your table...do what you want!" (my quote)

Obviously you did not realise that your opinion had a counter opinion.
You saw it as having a dust cover so it could be closed to play.
I saw it as having a dust cover to protect from dust when not playing.

Your statement was a definite one that just because it has a hinged dust cover it should be down, I was offering a counter viewpoint.

Where is your problem?

Obviously, that's your opinion and opinions are like...well, you know.

Well of course its my opinion, glad we resolved that.
Just as it was YOUR opinion that a hinged dust cover should be down.
We all have opinions just like we all have... well , you know.

So in the spirit of being open minded I tried on my tt-71 this morning with dustcover which is hinged to the plinth both up and down on same tracks.
Now bear in mind this is only on my second system which is not as resolving as the main but still.

Best way I can describe it is that with cover open it sounds more dynamic and open,more air and definition.
With cover down it was not bad by any means but seemed like a veil was lifted when I again opened the cover up.

I cannot perform same test in main system as the cover is a big square that sits over the 401 platter and tonearm and cartridge.

But I would say to my ears in my system it's clearly sounding better open on my Tt-71 which is a cover hinged to the plinth.

Draw whatever conclusions you like.