Audiolab 8000A and 8000S

I was not planning to bi-amp the speakers, but just to use the preamp as the source control and the power amp to drive the speakers .Do you recommend bi-amping ?
Nutella - How complicated a mod is removing the pre and power connection?
The 8000S also has pre out and power in jacks. A switch on the front panel allows it to be put into integrated , pre or 'pre-power AV' modes.The pre mode inactivates the internal link, the speakers and the power amp input.
The pre-power AV mode inactivates the internal pre/power link , but leaves the power in, preamp out and speakers active. To use as a power amp , does it matter whether the pre-amp outputs are still operational or not? If not , merely turning the switch would allow the 8000S to function as the power amp . Can the 8000A then be used as a preamp without removing any connectors?

Thank you for your responses.

I was paraphrasing the audiolab owner's manual. I have not performed the mod on my old unit. The manual does use the words "simple modification". If you feel confident in looking inside, you may be able to see for yourself if you can do it yourself. Otherwies, take it to an electronics repair shop and tell them what you need done. It should only cost their minimum charge. If you do choose to look inside yourself, remember that even if the unit is unplugged, there may still be enough voltage in the circuits to cause injury. Leave it unplugged for a while before you do anything.

From looking at my 8000A manual, I read it that you are going to have to do the internal modification whether you are going to use it as a preamp or power amp. You cannot simply hook up the A and use it as a preamp (if I am interpreting the manual correctly).

That being said, if your speakers have dual binding posts, I would strongly recommend a biamp configuration as I think you would derive the most benefit and best sound quality that way. I would definitely go for it, probably using the 8000S as the preamp unless you have an analogue source and want to use the MC/MM in the 8000A.

I thought you'd biamp since I couldn't figure out what you would gain from using the preamp of one to drive the poweramp of the other. From what I remember the 8000S is a more capable amp than the 8000A, but the 8000A has tone controls and a phono preamp, which are both not present on the 8000S. Apart from the phono preamp I would think that both the pre and power stages of the 8000S are superior to the 8000A.

Unless you need the phono preamp (and I'm guessing you don't, since you don't have one on the 8000S) then I'd use the 8000S as an integrated, driving the high frequencies, and the 8000A as a power amp, driving the low frequencies. I don't know whether the power amp section of each amp has the same gain, but I think it is quite likely they do. You should get a noticeable improvement if you bi-amp this way, as you've almost doubled your power, and your current driving capability.

Please let us know how you get on ... it's an interesting experiment.

I appreciate the advice and think it makes good sense . I have decided to set it up as suggested - bi-amping with the 8000S as an integrated , and the 8000A as the power amp . If anyone knows the specifics of seperating the pre and power stages please let me know.
I will keep you posted on my progress.
Thanks .