The TKD (Ko-on) potentiometers are highly regarded, probably the best pots in current production. Used by Audio Note, LAMM and Kondo.

TKD makes excellent feeling and sounding volume controls. Once you've heard (and felt) the difference between a $7.00 volume control and a $70.00 control you'll understand why people go to such lengths to get cheap controls out of their signal path.

TKD 2CP-2508-S Stereo volume control (with sheild between the channels)

The 2CP-2508-S A is a stereo volume (log) control with a 300 degree rotational angle with a shield between the 2 channels. The TKD's A version mimic's the familiar "audio/log" taper.
Laser trimmed conductive plastic tapers

Fully encapsulated.
30 x 43 x 37 mm (depth without bush/shaft), bush height 9mm, shaft length 16mm.
Chassis hole size dia. 9mm, shaft dia. 6mm,

available in 10K, 50K, 100K

TKD 2CP-2508S-S Stereo volume control with stepped action. 100K

Same as the 2CP-2508-S above but this volume control feels like an stepped attenuator.

available in 100K

TKD 2CP-2511 Stereo volume control.

The 2CP-2511 A is a stereo volume (log) control, with a 315 degree rotational angle.
The TKD's A version mimic's the familiar "audio/log" taper.
Laser trimmed conductive plastic tapers

Fully encapsulated.
25 x 39 x 28 mm (depth without bush/shaft), bush height 9mm, shaft length 16mm.
Chassis hole size dia. 9mm, shaft dia. 6mm.

available in 10K, 50K and 100K

Datasheet

TKD 2CP-2511S Stereo volume control with stepped action.

Same as the 2CP-2511 above but this volume control feels like an stepped attenuator.

available in 50K, 100K

TKD 2CP-2511MC Motorized stereo volume control

Same specifications as the 2CP-2511 but motor driven.

Fully encapsulated.
25 x 39 x 64 mm (depth without bush/shaft), bush height 9mm, shaft length 16mm.
Chassis hole size dia. 9mm, shaft dia. 6mm

Motor supply tension between 3 and 12VDC.
Rotation at 3VD about 18 sec, at 6VDC about 8 sec.

available in 50K, 100K

TKD 2P-2511 Stereo volume control

The 2P-2511 A is a stereo volume (log) control, with a 315 degree rotational angle.
The TKD's A version mimic's the familiar "audio/log" taper.
Laser trimmed conductive plastic tapers

In comparison to the 2CP version, the 2P offers even better attenuation and channel matching accuracy.

Fully encapsulated.
25 x 39 x 28 mm (depth without bush/shaft), bush height 9mm, shaft length 16mm.
Chassis hole size dia. 9mm, shaft dia. 6mm.

available in 10K, 50K, 100K

Datasheet

TKD 2P-2511S Stereo volume control with stepped action

Same specifications as the 2P-2511 above but this volume control feels like an stepped attenuator.


available in 50K, 100K

Tokyo Ko-On Denpa 2CP-2511 Stereo volume control.


One important feature of a dual audio-taper attenuator (volume control from here on) is how well it tracks: that is, how closely matched the two channels are to each other. No volume control has perfect tracking: one channel will always be a little different from the other. Even well-trained ears are only sensitive enough to notice a difference of about 1dB, though, and for the average person the minimum noticeable difference is more like 3dB. It's no surprise, then, that the least expensive volume controls have a 3dB tracking specification.

With potentiometer type attenuators, the tracking spec will only be given down to a certain level. A common spec is 3dB down to -40dB. 40dB is a factor of 100, so such a pot is guaranteed to have its channels within 3dB of each other down to the point where the pot is attenuating the signal to 0.01×. Below that point, the channels can be badly mismatched and the pot will still be within spec. The reason pots are specified this way is that manufacturing errors build up over the range of the pot's travel. It's much harder to make a pot with good matching down to -60dB, for instance. This spec is a good indicator of a pot's quality, since it reflects on the accuracy and repeatability of the manufacturing process.

The channel unbalance for the TKD 2CP2511 is less then 0,5 dB at -60dB. This is almost as good as a stepped attenuator. The 2CP2511 achieves this through it's special design. In parallel to the main resistive element there are 6 laser trimmed resistors.Each channel is trimmed for perfect balance and perfect logarithmic behavior.