ALPS Blue Velvet vs TKD 2CP-2511 for an Elekit TU-8500

[TomHiatt]

My chain :
-Qobuz
-Eversolo DMP A6 Gen 2 Master Edition
-Elekit TU-8500 with mundorf mcap supreme and philips miniwatt heerlen, gain at x3.
-Plinius 9200 in power amp mode (RCA Cable -10db)
-Cabasse Murano bookshelves and BK ELEK XL200 Sub

I need to replace the stock ALPS RK097 pot in the Elekit but still in doubt wether I should go for the ALPS Blue Velvet or the TKD 2CP-2511.
My techy says the TKD is smooth but still works in 21 steps electrically. Can anyone confirm this? I think/read it is mechanically and electrically perfectly smooth with the same behaviour as the ALPS Blue Velvet.
If I stay true to the philosophy of the Plinius and Elekit, I bypass the Plinius pre, but the pre has a blue velvet and the elekit is designed to hold a blue velvet but due to (?) they used the budget option.
The TKD looks the superiour choice (if not stepped), but will it match better than the ALPS?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SONDEKNZ]

If it fits, go the TDK.

It is your best chance to get perfect levels at the low (volume) end of the attenuator.

 

[TomHiatt]

But isn't the TDK 2511, smooth or stepped, 21 steps electrically as they are ladder tapers?
The TKD 2CP-2500-B, on the other hand, is not available where i live.
The ALPS Blue still on top of the list then.
My biggest concern is that the blue alps veils more at low volumes and my aim is having body on low volumes, no tone suck and channel matching.
Elma, Khozmo are all too big to fit...

 

[TriodeLuvr]

I'm using ALPS 250K log pots in my preamps. They track very well electrically at lower settings, although I don't generally use them below 12 o'clock. There's no "veiling," whatever that means.

Jack

 

[spantou01]

But isn't the TDK 2511, smooth or stepped, 21 steps electrically as they are ladder tapers?
The TKD 2CP-2500-B, on the other hand, is not available where i live.
The ALPS Blue still on top of the list then.
My biggest concern is that the blue alps veils more at low volumes and my aim is having body on low volumes, no tone suck and channel matching.
Elma, Khozmo are all too big to fit...

Google is your friend. Apparently TDK 2CP-2511 is smooth i.e. without indents. TDK 2CP-2511S has the indent feel, but is NOT a switching type, while TKD 2P-2511S is and has real steps. I assume that means it is a real ladder attenuator.

Look here: TKD Tokyo Ko-On Denpa volume control main page

Edit: Despite its switchless rotation, it seems unclear to me whether the 2CP-2511 is a ladder attenuator or not, because it appears to be constructed out of several resistance elements which are engaged in some manner.

 

[TriodeLuvr]

Just to add, the market has been flooded with ALPS counterfeits. I even bought one from a known commercial dealer that turned out to be wrong. If someone had a problem with a newly purchased ALPS pot, whether it was the electrical measurement, the feel or the sound, this might be the reason. I have purchased four of the 250K pots from Parts Connexion at this point, and all were excellent.

ALPS Counterfeit

Jack

 

[TomHiatt]

It seems the direct alternative to the ALPS Blue Velvet RK271 is the TKD 2CP-2508 A.
No ladder there....
(TOKYO KO-ON DENPA WEBSITE -PRODUCTS: Variable potentiometer CP2500 Series-)
So, a final question : Is the TKD worth the cost over the ALPS in my chain?
I'm still tending to the ALPS, because I do not want to stack transparant on bright and my chain is already verry (enough) transparant/bright atm.
That's why i ditched my Topping D90SE for the Eversolo, too clinical/bright/topping glare.

 

[TriodeLuvr]

I do not want to stack transparant on bright and my chain is already verry (enough) transparant/bright atm.

"Bright" and "Transparent" are not equivalent. If you don't want it to be transparent, maybe switch to solid state.

Jack

 

[TomHiatt]

I wrote to TKD and here's the answer.
My options are now the 2CP-2508-A or the 2CP-601-A.
As the 2508 is pretty big to fit, I have set my mind on the 2CP-601-A.


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Hi Mr. Geert,

Thank you for your inquiry.

First of all, the CP2500/CP2511 series are continuous variable controllers using the resistive element, not stepped type.
We apologize for the confusion, but we have CP2500 series both in potentiometer and ladder circuit, but CP2511 has only ladder circuit.

The datasheets for CP2500/CP2511 in ladder circuit show the attenuation values for each angle, which may be why they appeared to be stepped variable.
Since the ladder circuit in the CP2500/CP2511 series is built on the CP board, the volume changes smoothly unlike the contact-type attenuators such as the P2500 series.

Since the TU-8500 uses 50KA volume, which is a dual potentiometer circuit with 15A curve, our 2CP2508, which is in a potentiometer circuit will be electrically similar to RK097 and RK27 (blue velvet) rather than the CP2511 in a ladder circuit.
TOKYO KO-ON DENPA WEBSITE -PRODUCTS: Variable potentiometer CP2500 Series-

If you require the ladder circuit, we recommend the CP2500 in ladder circuit.
CP2500 has a rotation angle of 300 degrees, same as the RK097 and RK27, while the CP2511 has a rotation angle of 315 degrees.

Although it hasn't been officially announced, it seems that the TU-8500 is designed to be modified using the RK27.
Regarding the overall dimensions, the CP2500/CP2511 is larger than the RK27 because the PCB protrudes, which may make wiring routing more difficult.
We also have the CP600 series, which are smaller type in 16mm square body. The busing is with M8, which is the same as the RK27, while the CP2500/CP2511 has M9.
The CP600 would be more easy to install than CP2500/CP2511 series.
Potentiometer: TOKYO KO-ON DENPA WEBSITE -PRODUCTS: Variable potentiometer CP600 Series-
Ladder: TOKYO KO-ON DENPA WEBSITE -PRODUCTS: Variable attenuator CP600 Series-

We hope this helps.

Best regards,
Kayoko Shinbori
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