I use a Bryston DAC 3. It has many inputs including 4 HDMI inputs. I use two of the HDMI inputs, one for a Sony SACD player, but mainly the other one for an Oppo 105 for Redbook, SACD, DVD-A, and Blu Ray, all in 2 channel. If your Esoteric can output HDMI then that would be a good choice
fwiw, I listened to a DVD-A in stereo yesterday with my Pioneer Universal Player in a HT system yesterday. It wasn't by choice--it was Bach's Brandenburg Concertos on the Tacet label, and the disc was engineered so that the First Concerto was in 2 Channel, and the subsequent 5 Concertos in different surround configurations. I kept thinking something was wrong with the Pioneer until I read the album sleeve notes
fwiw, I listened to a DVD-A in stereo yesterday with my Pioneer Universal Player in a HT system yesterday. It wasn't by choice--it was Bach's Brandenburg Concertos on the Tacet label, and the disc was engineered so that the First Concerto was in 2 Channel, and the subsequent 5 Concertos in different surround configurations. I kept thinking something was wrong with the Pioneer until I read the album sleeve notes