Integrated w/phono but no DAC

Thanks guys!

@djones51 Yeah the Outlaw seems to be the only game in town these days for a 2 channel integrated with tuner.  I've heard a couple mixed messages on this item - do you have one?

@reubent It seems like receiver these days means Home Theater AV receiver, so google is little help.  I love my Brio-R so Rega is certainly on my short list if I can't find something with a Tuner. 

@jl35 I had a PM6005 and didn't love it - sounded a little flabby.  Especially when turned up.  Does the additional power on the PM8005 take care of this?

Thanks!

Thanks @veroguy  - very helpful!

Anyone have experience with a Cambridge Audio Topaz SR20?

@veroguy - the yamaha stuff intrigues me quite a bit.  I had an AVR from them and liked the room tuning but the rhythm and timing of the amp lacked drive - a sort of lazy sound.  

Could you describe your experience with it compared to other integrateds?  What speakers do you have? Thank you!!

@jl35 would you consider the R-N803 and A-S801 in their “upper level”?

@hatz How does your Sphinx sound at low volumes?  Do you detail and depth or do you get the feeling that you need to turn it up to hear everything?

@veroguy @willland Same question to you guys regarding your Yamahas?

@jl35 How about the Belles for low-level listening?

Thanks all! Very helpful suggestions!

Thanks @djones51. The tone controls on the anthem weren’t enough to adjust to your living room?

what did you switch to?

this is for my kitchen/dining room and tone controls are very helpful. I’m curious about room correction as well 

@jl35 Do you have first hand experience with the Anthem 225 and how does it compare to the Belles?  Especially for low-level listening as well?

Thanks!

I ended up buying the A-S801.  That price was too good not to try it.  Will let you all know how it goes - thanks for your help!

So I’ve only had it for a day but I’m loving it. Sounds crystal clear and detailed and dynamic, but not clinical or harsh. Only using CD and phono inputs but you can turn everything else off with the Pure Direct button and it’s a clear improvement. It’s funny, one of the reasons I bought it was to have tone controls, but the Pure Direct button bypasses them and it doesn’t need them at all - sounds fantastic.  Also telling is that I can listen at a volume that you can't hear on the other floors of my house without feeling like I *need* to turn it up.  It does sound good turned up too though.

To follow up here - still really enjoying the Yamaha A-S801 amp for CD and Digital playing.  Super clean and clear and detailed even at fairly quiet volumes. The DAC sounds good (optical) though i don't use it really.  The remote works really well for adjusting the volume - doesn't jump around. Volume control in general is really smooth.  It sounds great at all volumes and I don't suffer from that feeling that I always need to turn it up to hear more or turn it down because it sounds harsh.  The Pure Direct mode is fantastic and jumps in your ear.  If you want to have conversations or background music the tone controls and loudness dial are very helpful.  My wife doesn't ask me "can we turn this down a little" anymore. 
3 negs:
1) I thought I'd be able to charge my phone via the USB port but it doesn't work for some reason.
2) The phono input sounds a little sharp when in Pure Direct mode.  Can take the edge off with the tone controls but that's not something I'd expect with vinyl... I don't listen to much vinyl so it's not a big deal, and it's doesn't sound horrible or anything.  Could be that it's revealing the inadequacies of my turntable or stylus.
3) The "CD Direct" mode, which according to the manual should sound best, sounds harsh and "ouchy" (wife's description). But that's ok, I just don't use it.

Anybody else have one to share their experience?