Why Are Phono Cables Different?


I have now read from several different cable manufacturers that phono cables have different requirements than line level interconnects. What surprised me is that in the cases I know about the phono cable is always cheaper than the line level interconnect.

For example, Stealth's Indra retails at $5750 but their phono cable is "only" $2800. I would have thought that the phono cable because of the small signal to preserve would require more care and thus more cost.

Can anyone tell me what special characteristics a phono cable should have compared to a line level interconnect? (This would also probably tell us why the phono cable is cheaper.)

Thanks.
George
george_a
Remember, a phono cable is, normally, a single cable. Line interconnects are always a pair.
Whoa, Narrod, since when? Last I looked, my phono cables had a left and a right. Unless you're listening in mono.

The only "requirements" I know of are that the phono cables be sufficiently shielded to avoid hum. Otherwise, line level ICs will work just fine. Why the cost discrepancy in the Stealth ones is a mystery, at least to me. Dave