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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
dopogue
1,767 posts
 
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
stew3859's avatar
stew3859
119 posts
 
Narrod:
Are you confusing phono cable with tonearm cable?
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Dopogue, you're kidding right? The average phono cable has left and right running in the same sheath. The average line interconnect is two physically separate cables. What's not to understand?
dopogue
1,767 posts
 
Narrod, I've heard of phono links assembled like that -- two cables in the same sheath for convenience sake-- but the operative word is "two." By the same token, the cheap pairs of interconnects that come packed with much stereo gear might be considered "one cable," but ... come on :-)
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Stew3859, a standard phono cable is terminated with a DIN plug at one end and two RCA plugs (with or without a ground wire) at the other end. All runs in the same sheath. That's why it is normally cheaper than a pair of interconnects from the same brand and model or cable. Less wire and fewer connectors.
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