Upgrade path for HDX, 202, 200, Gale 401 system?

Add a Hicap to your 202/200. Works wonders.

BBM

I'm sure plenty will suggest a Hugo as an obvious candidate, but if you do choose to go the Dac route, don't commit until you have tried a Naim Dac in your system.  You already have an XPS which could be utilised on the Naim Dac and this would seriously lift, in my experience, the performance of the HDX.  HDX>>nDac>>XPS is a great source.  Nice used nDac examples are around well within your budget and you should have enough left in your budget for a HiLine to really max out your front end.  Your much loved speakers would love you for it!

Only a suggestion...sell the XPS2 buy a Hugo. Add the £1500 to the sale of your 202 Napsc and save towards a SH 282.  Big leap in overall SQ.

G

When were your Gale 401s last inspected or serviced?  They may well be in need of some work.  They are, however, a fine speaker, still held in great esteem by some and well worth refreshing.  

For all that, the 401 was a very demanding speaker.  Back in the '70s the original NAP250 was one of the only amps up to driving it properly, and even then, a pair of NAP135s (when they arrived) were probably more appropriate. However, people used to successfully use NAP160s with the 401s so a NAP200DR should probably be OK until you start to demand higher listening levels.

So, if it were me, the first thing I'd do is remove the covers on the 401s and take a look at the condition of the drive units and prepare to have a specialist refresh the crossover, rewire etc..  This done, they're definitely keepers.

p.s. are you using them with the original bent chrome stands? If so, while they look OK in a period Habitat kind of way, these do the sound of the speakers no favours.  A great upgrade is to to use something else - anything else, really.

As far as 'black boxes' are concerned, a 282 would be nice. You might first want to add a Hicap, though. This would pave the way to adding a 250 in the future, which I imagine would get much more out of your Gales. (I don't know them well, but aren't they supposed to like plenty of power behind them?)

If all that sounds a bit much, a new 200DR, with its upgraded preamp PSU, might be a good way to improve either your current 202 or a 282 if you ever go there.