If you are using an analog connection, then the SP 1.7 (in bypass mode) is exactly the same as the BP25DA. If you are using a digital connection, then the two are different. The BP-25DA contains jitter correction hardware that the SP-1.7 does not include. I believe that the same DACs are used in both units. I haven't heard the BP-25DA, but I would assume that it is better in digital mode for listening to music than the Sp-1.7 in digital mode. There are a number of threads on this topic that might be of interest.