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

Showing 1 response by jtimothya

I don't believe there is any correlation between signal strength and cost.

Your Indra example is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison. The Indra uses the purportedly limited availability amorphous metal wire whereas the Hyperphono does not.

A few points where a phono cable may be different:
Some have a DIN-type connector on one end - the seperate signal cables are joined at the DIN. A DIN terminated single-ended (RCA) phono cable will have a single ground wire in addition to the signal leads. DIN/XLR terminated will not have a ground wire.