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
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?
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 :-)