Ok guys

@chakster
I always appreciate your enthusiasm for Technics tables and vinyl playback. I keep the transparent hinged dust cover on a KAB mod’d SL1210M5G down and have no problem seeing the record currently playing. Even with nothing on the platter, leaving the cover in place limits dust reaching the mechanicals of the turntable and should keep the mat cleaner too. FWIW - in addition to changing the stock feet to threaded spikes resting on a heavy wood platform with layered isolating materials under each corner, I also use small gel "bumpers" on the plinth where the dust cover will rest when lowered. Finally, a weight is placed on the top of the closed cover during playback.

As Mapman has already said in response to the OP’s question...up or down? Try it both ways and let your own ears decide.

Alright then
Yes you can tell I am not at work this week as have time to try various experiments but I do think this one maybe useful to some.
Or at minimum another point to discuss?
Re static build up on the record surface while playing.

So we measure static on a fairly regular basis on the films we produce during manufacturing and to this end we use various makes of fieldmeters like the one in this link.
https://www.simco-ion.co.uk/our-products/static-measuring/electrostatic-fieldmeter-type-fmx-004

Well I dragged mine out and checked the charge on the record surface while just spinning with no stylus contact and then during and after the full side of an album had played.
Now maybe my meter is not accurate enough to monitor very low level change ( tbh I have no idea what levels we are talking about for the "build up" on a record surface?) but I could measure NO difference in my system in my house with my meter.

Hi Uberwaltz,

Is the room air conditioned?  Especially if it is not, I'm thinking that the humid conditions which tend to occur in your neck of the woods may result in lower static levels than in more northern regions, at least during the cold weather months.

Best regards,
-- Al

Al
It's "only" 82 here today, no need for the AC yet.
But that's a valid point especially if the amount we are talking of is a very small amount, and that I do not know the range of?
When i conducted my test it was fairly mild in the room, low 70,s? Did not feel particularly humid but must be in relation to cooler states.

I never even thought about it.  The turntable I have now was bought 30 years ago from some guy as part of a package of equipment he was selling so his wife couldn’t get it in the divorce.  The Kenwood linear-tracking TT did not have a dust cover — he didn’t know what became of it; maybe he thought it was better to not have a cover at all?  I just folded a pillow case in half and draped it over the turntable when not in use.  I still do it that way and now rarely play records.  I have a lot of records that endured many drunken parties and suffered from rough handling and spilt beer, though I did apply a Diskwasher prior to playing them, but a lot do not sound so good even after cleaning.  I think it would have been more important for me to have someone responsible to handle and maintain my records instead of having the dust cover.