Dust cover up or down?

Cleeds, now that is a new one to me (dust cover reduces VTF by electrostatic attraction). How did you figure that out, given that you can’t measure VTF with the cover down?

Or I guess you could, by raising and lowering the cover with the scale in place that you could read through the transparent cover.

@cleeds is right, i remember a Dual having that problem, rub the cover with a cloth till it pulls the headshell/cartridge,arm up. Good game.

Never experimented that on another tt.

Fascinating.  I would not have thought the attraction would be so strong over what would typically be the ~6-inch distance or so, between cartridge and dust cover. So ES on an LP can spuriously increase VTF and ES on the dust cover can lower it.  If you're lucky, the two attractions are equal and there is no change in VTF.  So one other solution is to rub up your LPs with a wool cloth before play with the cover down.

It obviously depends on your TT and your ears.  

Quite from Hoffman forum:

"Bottom line: If you don't notice much of a difference, then down all the way. But just having the lid so at the minimum you can close it when you're not using it will help a lot."