What is the best sounding Pre/Pro 7.1 channel with analog bypass.

I looking to spend about $500 or less for a used pre/pro. So from $700 to $1000 new. Seeking clarity and imaging in the sound quality. Used mainly for HT, but want great sound for stereo. Using Chane bookshelf speakers with an Elac powered subwoofer in a 12'X12' room.  

My first reaction is to tell you to save up until you can get something better and not to expect great sound quality from a $500 pre-pro (or even much higher ones for that matter).

Having said that, Every time a new pre-pro comes out the manufacturer claims big increases in sound quality, when really it's mostly new features (room correction, video handling, atmos, etc.) and pre-pros tend to lose their value faster than most audio gear so you can find some bargains on some decent gear if you don't have to have the latest and greatest. 

In your price range for used, I'd try to pick up an Onkyo Integra DTC-9.8.  I'm not sure if it has all the features you want, and I'm not sure why you want to run the Oppo directly to your amp.  The pre-pro has balanced inputs and 7.1 analog inputs.  You can set it up so that you're using the DACs in the Oppo if that's what you're after.  There are a lot of reviews about this unit and a few of them for sale under your budget.

I agree with big_greg.  Finding a good sounding processor WITH HDMI for $500 used is going to be very hard.  There's an Anthem D1 that has been upgraded with HDMI on audiogon for $670.  That's likely to be 15 years old.  The Integra DTC-9.8 that big_greg recommends can also be 12 or so years old.  

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for something newer, there's actually a Integra DHC-60.5 on ebay for $350 plus $99 shipping.  They say "barely used", but I wouldn't believe that too much.  But it's cheap and originally retailed for around $1600. 

What about a new Outlaw Model 975 prepro since you're already running their amp?  Only $550. 

https://outlawaudio.com/products/975.html

Actually, that's a pretty good suggestion, if you want a new product.  The Outlaw 975 is very well designed and laid out as far as internal architecture goes.  It runs in the same league as the Emotiva UMC-200 did.  If you were looking at a new product, I would actually suggest the 976 model instead (for $929, which is well within your budget for "new").  It supports balanced XLR outputs and has much better power supply and power supply filtering - plus it supports HDMI 4K for future.
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That being said, I still think that Integra DHC-60.5 would be a better choice.  It has much larger power supply and much better components than the Outlaw (capacitors, transformers, etc.).  It is used, but you would get better sound quality in the end.  The Outlaw is built based on very similar principles to Emotiva -- to build the best design as possible using the cheapest components and sell direct to customer (no retail distribution) to give the best "bang for the buck" for the consumer.  They definitely succeed in that.  But keep in mind that Integra originally retailed for $2k (I just checked) and was highly mass marketed and distributed (which means it's still cheaper for a given performance that the boutique companies such as Bryston or Krell).  Integra DHC-60.5 comes in at 24lbs, where the Outlaw 975 is only 9lbs, the 976 is 12 lbs.