Cardas · Clear Cygnus
From $530
Cardas · Clear Cygnus
Flagship-derived Matched Propagation conductors in a shielded star quad, at the price most analog systems can justify: organic, dynamic and neutral, with rich analog detail.
Price is for one complete phono cable, both channels, at the shortest length shown. Choose length and ends in the selector. The CG XLR phono-stage end is a $200 upgrade.
Authorized Cardas dealer · Delivery and installation by Pearl Audio · Trade-ins welcome
The story
Clear Cygnus Phono borrows the star-quad geometry and air-tube suspension of the flagship Clear Beyond Phono, with four 25.5 AWG Matched Propagation conductors insulated in a double layer of PTFE tape; the composite shield rides on its own layer of larger air tubes.
Cardas calls it very organic and dynamic, keeping the Cardas sound with a neutral tonal balance and rich analog detail, and says it works in almost any analog system. Standard terminations are a Cardas S-DIN to GRMO RCA or RCA to RCA; a CG XLR phono-stage end is a $200 upgrade.
Check your tonearm: most have a 5-pin DIN socket under the arm base (straight DIN), some exit sideways and need a 90° DIN, and others have RCA sockets on the plinth. Cardas builds a 90° R-DIN or SME-style 90° DIN to order at no extra charge in most cases; tell us the arm model and we will specify it. 1 m to 1.25 m suits a phono stage on the same shelf; measure the real path to a stage on another rack and round up to the next quarter metre.
| Type | Phono (tonearm) cable, both channels |
| Conductors | 4 × 25.5 AWG; Matched Propagation Kevlar-core Litz, double-layer PTFE tape insulation |
| Geometry | Star-quad, four conductors with anti-static LDPE air tubes bound in carbon-impregnated PTFE tape; outer PTFE air tubes scaled 1.618× suspend the composite shield of tinned copper and magnet wire |
| Outside diameter | 0.384 in (9.8 mm) |
| Tonearm end | Straight 5-pin DIN (Cardas S-DIN) or RCA pair (turntable with RCA outputs); Cardas R-DIN (90°) and SME 90° DIN to order |
| Phono stage end | RCA pair — Cardas GRMO or XLR pair — Cardas CG XLR upgrade |
| Lengths | 0.5 m to 2.75 m standard (see selector); any length to order |
| Sold as | Single cable |
| Warranty | Cardas lifetime cable warranty |
| Made in | Bandon, Oregon, USA |
Cardas Clear Cygnus Phono product page and specifications Specifications from cardas.com and the Cardas 2025 Dealer Catalog (Spring 2025 Retail). Lengths are metric; Cardas builds any length to order.
Cardas phono cables run from Iridium to Clear Beyond Phono X2, built with a straight 5-pin DIN or RCAs at the tonearm and Cardas RCAs at the phono stage; R-DIN (90°) and SME 90° DIN to order.
Plan your Cardas system with Pearl Audio
Pearl Audio is an authorized Cardas dealer. Tell us your tonearm and phono stage and we will specify the DIN or RCA ends, order custom lengths, and arrange an audition in our Portland showroom. Call (503) 222-2599 or email sales@pearlaudio.com.
The Pearl Audio experience
A system at this level should be heard, thoughtfully matched, and properly set up. From the first audition to long-term ownership, you work with the same people, in person.
Hear the Clear Cygnus Phono by appointment in one of our two purpose-designed demonstration rooms, with your own music and time to compare without pressure.
We deliver and install throughout the Portland area, taking care of placement, connections, ventilation and system configuration ourselves.
We support everything we sell for as long as you own it, whether the answer comes by phone, in your home, or through factory service.
Trade-in assistance and qualifying 100% Trade-Up options give you flexibility when your listening priorities or your system change.
