Integrated comparisons - Krell vs Naim vs Plinius vs Sim Audio


I'm looking for an integrated to mate well with a pair of Dynaudio Contour 1.8mk2's.  I listen mostly to classic rock, jam bands etc with lots of live recordings.  No classical, jazz or Diana Krall demo stuff that makes everything sound great.  I guess I need a forgiving, musical amp vs detailed and accurate. The following models have been suggested to me, so I did some research, and wanted to gather some additional opinions-  

Krell KAV-300i:  This integrated along with the subsequent versions seem to be great bargains in the used market.  I've never heard a Krell amp, though I'm confident it will have plenty of power for the 1.8's.  I'm concerned it might sound a bit thin and less engaging with music compared to the others. 

Naim XS-2:  I recently heard the newest Supernait with Dynaudio's, which sounded fantastic and had that lush, engaging quality that people seem to gravitate towards.  The Supernait is way out of my price range but I may be able to stretch for the XS.  I'm a little concerned the lower powered XS might leave me wanting for more, especially compared to the Krell or Plinius (both around 300 watts into 4ohms vs 100 for the Naim).   

Plinius 8200mk2:  I've never heard any Plinius gear either, but like the Krell the specs seem to be quite sufficient for loud music.  Some people have described the Plinius sound as sleepy while others say punchy and musical.  I guess its a matter of system matching, but I'd like to avoid sleepy.

Simaudio i5.3:  I used to own the Sim i5080 which I loved.  It was fast, punchy and smooth, but I wished it played a little louder because it really only opened up the dyn's at high levels, but at that point you could tell the little i5080 was running out of gas.  I've since wondered how my system would sound with one of their higher priced models.  The main concern, similar to the Naim XS, would be if the Sim's 130 watts would be enough to keep me looking for more (the i5080 actually had 140 watts, but I know the i5.3 is supposed to be beefier).   

Let me know if you have had experience with any of the above or similar integrated amps I should look at.  Thanks in advance. 
128x128perkadin
Thanks! for sharing your listening thoughts and impressions- perkadin.
The Plinius is on my list to demo as well. All of the brands that you listed are top-tier amps for sure. Feel free to give a shout out to any dealer/retailer where you heard these products. I listen at loud levels too.
Happy Listening!
Well since no one has chimed in, I thought I'd add an update.  I picked up a used Krell 300i, and still hope to get a chance to hear the Plinius, Naim XS, and a Sim i3.3 or 5.3. I'll have an opportunity to bring the Hegel H160 into the comparison in the next week or so, to add a candidate.  

Comparing the three that I have heard so far (300i/i5080/Supernait 2) is a bit of a mismatch price wise, but honestly they are all great amps.  The Krell and the Sim are the most similar, with the Krell having better bass and noticeably more power.  When I cranked up the volume (I tend to listen very loud) on the Sim I wished it had just a little more to give with my floor standing speakers, though it was not an issue w/ bookshelf speakers or in the bedroom. The Krell solves that problem, and for not much more money, and is way easier to find.  Plus I love the look of the Krell with its brushed metallic face and blue & red leds.  I'd be interesting to compare the baby Sim to the Nait 5 series for a bedroom setup.  

As for the Krell 300i vs Supernait 2 its a little more difficult to compare since I didn't home audition the Naim. But the obvious difference was bass and vocals. The Supernait 2's (and maybe this is a Naim trait) strength is in vocals.  They seem very pronounced and sound amazingly full on the right recording.  If you are into Otis Redding, Stevie Nicks, Aaron Neville etc. you'll love the sound.  The SN2 couldn't touch the Krell's bass though.  The other issue is the SN2 is extremely detailed, which can be both a blessing and a curse. I'm a streaming guy and use Pandora, and most of what I listen to (live rock) had me skipping over certain songs/artists and looking for better recorded material. You can tell why the SN2 is so much more expensive, the detail puts it in another league, but sadly what I usually listen to isn't in that league.  Perhaps the Naim XS or even the older Supernait would be better suited for me, or Plinius or Hegel or Rega.... sigh, the quest continues, but so far the Krell has been a pleasant surprise.