Substitute tone pots

[Matt Giarra]

I’m trying to find a new, currently-produced replacement for the tone pots on a 2225 PE-01 tone board. I suspect they’re the same pots used on multiple receiver models. 2-gang 100K linear pots with 11 detent positions.

After much searching, I’ve found no drop-in replacement, and no dimensionally similar pot.

Bourns PDB182 series purports to have an 11-position option, but the 11-detent version is no longer produced. I purchased the center-detent model (PDB182-K230K-104B), and the detent is much softer (less clicky) than the OEM Marantz pots. The feel is very different. The dimensions are different than OEM as well.

Alpha products makes a similar product (to Bourns’), and told me they don’t stock the 11-detent version, but would happily manufacture a minimum order of 1000 units.

I don’t want to order used pots or new old-stock because those are not dependable sources, and I plan to do multiple of these rebuilds.

So has anyone found a pot that’s both electrically and haptically similar to the OEM? Bonus if the dimensions match OEM, but I can mitigate dimensional differences by building adapters if needed.

 

[ivandezande]

You're stuck with used pots, this question has been asked again and again.

What's wrong with the current ones?

 

[Matt Giarra]

You're stuck with used pots, this question has been asked again and again.

What's wrong with the current ones?

Got it; disappointing but understandable. I tried searching but the search function didn’t work for me.

As for the reason: nothing is wrong with the pots on my OEM board, but I want to make some custom boards, and prefer new parts if possible.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Got it; disappointing but understandable. I tried searching but the search function didn’t work for me.

As for the reason: nothing is wrong with the pots on my OEM board, but I want to make some custom boards, and prefer new parts if possible.

You’ve stumbled on one of the reasons audio manufacturers have to make revisions and sometimes even discontinue a product.

 

[Matt Giarra]

You’ve stumbled on one of the reasons audio manufacturers have to make revisions and sometimes even discontinue a product.

Not sure I understand. What’s the reason?

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Not sure I understand. What’s the reason?

Chips, transistors, pots, transformers, specific components are all made by other companies. When a critical one goes out of production, the hi-fi manufacturer will have to substitute with something else. When enough things need substituting, and critical chips are no longer made, the amp or whatever either needs a serious redesign or gets discontinued.

I guess the moral of the story is that not everyone gets exactly everything they want. Everybody is limited by current availability and may have make a substitution. Flexibility is key here.

 

[Matt Giarra]

I guess the moral of the story is that not everyone gets exactly everything they want. Everybody is limited by current availability and may have make a substitution. Flexibility is key here.

yep, I used Bourns pots for my 2225 PE-01 knockoff. I repositioned the pots compared to the original design to accommodate their shorter height than OEM pots, and the board worked just fine as a drop-in replacement. I do miss the chunky click of the originals though.