Thank you so much for your response.
To make my understanding clear, the following is what I could do.
Connect the L and R pre-out of the A/V receiver to one of the RCA inputs of the VR Integrated.
(I need to adjust the volume of the VR Integrated along with the volume on the receiver, so that the L and R volume is not too off from the center channel or the other surround speakers. To mute the volume completely, I need to mute both the VR IA and the A/V receiver.)
For the stereo, if I'm using an external DAC, the RCA output of the external DAC can be connected to the other remaining RCA input on the VR IA. Or connect the external DAC XLR output to the VR IA XLR input.
Alternatively, for the stereo, use the VR internal DAC.
Please confirm if the volume management is the only inconvenience I have to deal with.
After reading all the reviews of the spatial audio with VR electronics, another amp/speaker choice is ruled out.
Also I'm curious why an HT bypass feature is opted out. Does it unnecessarily add circuits in the signal path, and degrade the quality of the stereo sound? Or it is just a marketing decision as not many customers asking for that option.
To me, the HT Bypass feature helps for a better WAF. Nowadays most of the large screen thin TVs come without built-in speakers.
"So anyway we need to buy external speakers for the TV. So why not do a parallel audio system as well with just a couple of extra electronics?"
Women are easier to get convinced when it comes to the purchase of TV and related accessories than the stereo.