Audiolab 8000A and 8000S

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 .

I contacted Tag McLaren who were very helpful and provided instructions for modifying the 8000A. This involved moving some links on the circuit board,simple enough really. I set up the amps as advised by Seandtaylor99 and the results have been truly excellent . The bass is far meatier and the overall sound is just so much fuller and punchier. Thanks to all who replied.

Glad it worked out ... thanks for letting us know.