The Longhorn: a Turntable Cartridge Mod

It has been called "the greatest upgrade you can do for your table at any price," and has been passed on from audiophile to audiophile from it's invention in 1982 by Frank Van Alstine and Robert Nielsen. In this video we'll build a Longhorn for my Grado Black and listen to a comparison video. Is the hype founded or is it another example of being audio-fooled?

[carlpaulsen]

I did hear a slight difference that I would say is an improvement with the longhorn. But... Did you try a third mod by simply adding weight to a non-longhorned version? You're adding mass with the longhorn, and mass can affect performance considerably. In order to know if it's the longhorn specifically or the added mass you really should test that approach.

[dixielandfarm]

At the resolution I am at on YT, I heard no discernable difference. For the potential of scratching a record with a large metal piece just hanging out, I think I will stick with stock.

[BanditVC]

How much is the extra weight of the longhorn??
The grado black is a good cartridge but not for high expectations! The Silver/Gild and the Signature bodies are much more better! There i could hear real difference between the stock grado stylus and the EposLab stylus!

[leon]

Couldnt really pick a clear difference out other than that the upgraded recording might be slightly louder or dynamic on the vocals. When blindfolded I though I found when you switched but the point I guessed on was just slightly after the switch, on the C of "He'll replace you".
If there is a difference its impossible to say if its because of the upgrade or simply increasing the mass of the tonearm though.

[fullblastman]

I can see where this has merit (the tightrope bicyclist with long balancing arm to help to keep the pivot more stable and probably somewhat damped in the front! I get it!

[donunus]

Not a big sonic change here. That ugly thing isn't beating a 2500 dollar cart when the difference between the stock is negligible.

[geoffvdw]

makes no difference. a heavier headshell would do the same thing with less effort

[josephfuller]

The longhorn is much better in my opinion. Vocals and top end on the stock version are hashy. The longhorn.cleans all of that up. There are people who don’t choose to listen even reasonably closely and then bash results too bad for them. Also for the person who doubts the longhorn beat the Koetsu have you heard both? I have been stunned by listening to a 5600 cartridge a 2900 cartridge and a 1000 cartridge and have the 2900 cartridge come out on top followed closely by the 1000 cartridge. The cartridge world is a scary one. There are some unbelievably good budget cartridges out there.

[marcjackson]

How does such a roughly crafted add-on effect anti-skating as one side has more weight than the other?
What next moulded dog turds as counter-weights?

[longde]

I thank you for the well explained steps in making a longhorn. This is a mod that is good for any cartridge since it focuses the mass of the tonearm back where it is more useful (near the stylus). However i can't help but think that the sound quality of your turntable is very poor, with or without longhorn. Really.

[leonlong]

my comments seem to appear then disappear. another mod, the drive motor was screwed to plate, the plate was screwed to the plastic base/ box.i wanted to isolate the motor, i put rubber between the plate and the box/base and the screw and the steel plate, then the screws holding motor and between the motor tabs and the plate. next i put a 1/4 inch of silicone on the inside of the base/box. i wanted to put rubber around the hinges of the dust cover but was unable to.the test outcome showed, it was unnecessary.if you keep your turntable in a heavy cabinet with a door this mod is unnecessary. another is to buy a cement patio tile as big as your turntable, and a piece of high pile carpet, place it upside down under the patio tile. dust; i keep the clear plastic turntable cover closed and i use orick air cleaner to keep the dust down.once you clean the orick you will realize how good they are!

[zackmc]

Interesting.... would you be willing to make one I could purchase?

[jerryprasetyo]

I think sound is more open, no tend to bright but lvocals dynamic not boring anymore

[MissPalorte]

Can anybody explain why this works? The principles at work?
Will it work just like an aluminium foil head cap? 😊

[buckoff]

I have an original Van Alstine Longhorn ands I love it but I haven gone down the MC Plath now and it’s for sale if anyone is interested

[polardeathdog]

File under extremely limited audience comedy.

[HHTTRRNN]

Not a huge difference form what I hear. Maybe a tad less harsh or "confused" sounding.

[yvanflodin]

the time and money wasted by audiophiles could save the world. what a pile of bs