TKD Pot. question

From what I can gather they are better than Alps RK27 and Noble.

I sincerely doubt that the taper alone makes any sonic difference since usually you are using only 2 or 3 settings of the pot for listening.

Am using the TKD 2511 in my M3 and like it a lot. Also bought a 2511S which is detented while on a business trip in Tokyo. Will be in my next amp...

True, but I still like the flexibility of a continuously variable pot to dial things in just right. I have had SA on previous audio gear and I always seemed to want the setting between the settings. Guess that is just human nature.

I thought about trying the 2508, but the 50k version does not seem to be available through North American sources. I will say this much, the 2511 is particularly smooth or as a friend of mine says "like butta!".

Good one...! 

I used the 2511 in my latest EHHA build.  It is definitely a step or two up over the Alps Blue in smoothness and sound.

Yeah, but that isn't what the OP is asking. He (I assume) is asking whether the 2508 offered by partsconnexion is any better than the standard 2CP2511 (also available at pcx, among others). I personally don't see an advantage to the 'A' taper over TKD's log taper (which is what the 2511 has). The A taper appears to ramp up a bit more quickly, but also maxes out faster at around 95% rotation (which probably is of little or no consequence). See datasheet attached. I certainly wouldn't pay $30 more for it. Note that acoustic dimension also appears to offer both (so much for only from pcx ). Agreed on the butta comment as well... these things are so smooth.

pcX is pleased to now offer a "special" TKD volume potentiometer, not offered by any other DIY hobbyist source. A consistent comment about TKD's popular 2CP-2511 control is it's pro-style "fader-like" taper....which is not always desired by HiFi hobbyists. What pcX has chosen (with the assistance of TKD's technical support engineers) is TKD's 2CP2508 part.....a stereo 100K pot, with a 300 degree rotational angle, and most importantly, with TKD's A taper...which mimic's the familiar "audio/log" taper offered by long-time industry leaders for HiFi audio potentiometers, ALPS and NOBLE. If you want the best sub-$100 "audio taper" potentiometer on the planet, this is the part to choose !

EDIT: I don't appear to have permissions to insert attachments, so here is a link to the datasheet.

http://www.acoustic-dimension.com/tkd/2CP2511.pdf

The 2508 is more expensive in Japan as well so it's not just PCX charging too much. 

I can't imagine how a slightly different attenuation curve makes a pot seem that much better to use......

In my experiences with both the 2508 and 2511 (heck, even the 2cp-65s) is that they are less noisy and more transparent, for lack of a better term. The gain in SQ was the difference, not the relative attenuation - thinking it is simply a better resistor? Dunno - but the TKD (at least the 25xx and 65, no clue about the 6xx series) have always just sounded better.

Now, compared to my Acoustic Dimension(s) or my DACT, not sure, since they are all in different amps. But, I have heard several amps with a defauly rk27, later replaced by a TKD, and there was no doubt as to the improvement.

So, no, the curve was NOT a factor in SQ, at least not IMO.

For the next week or so pcx has TKDs at 20% off.  I have one on the way.

BK

What about the new TKD pot for half the price of the 2511 -- "coming in early December." Might that be worth waiting for?

http://www.partsconnexion.com/tkd_73337.html

Data sheet is helpfully printed in Japanese.

http://www.partsconnexion.com/prod_pdf/tkd_cp600.pdf