Further self immunization remains for those who see all SMPS as inferior to linear supplies by design. Nagra's take on the subject is radically different. Keeping our minds open like a properly working parachute will make for a far better landing. Relative to what it can front, another Classic INT reviewer drove his MG1.7i Magneplanars "effortlessly; it was everything I get from my Accuphase E-470 integrated [180wpc – Ed.] and more. I discerned more detail, better definition of the spaces between various instruments and vocals and a finer fleshing out of bass. The soundstage was deeper, airier and more precise in the placement of various elements in the recording." Considering that these 86dB 4Ω panel speakers are known to pig out on power and current, such anecdotal evidence boded well for Matthieu's claim that their hybrid PSU has the Classic INT behave more powerful than its specs predict. Our household has no humdinger loads. I view the species a cruel aberration by lazy designers who work to the 'power is cheap' maxim created by affordable mega-power class D. Ought not amplifier friendliness be an important part of competent speaker design? In any event, I wouldn't be able to comment on unusual shows of strength.

Now being 2021, Nagra just celebrated their 70th birthday.

According to Stereophile's review of them, the Wilson Sabrina which the Classic INT drove at the 2016 CES dips to "2.44Ω at 135Hz and there is also a combination of 4.44Ω and a capacitive phase angle of –58° at 72Hz, a frequency where music can have considerable energy; this will place a significant demand for current on the partnering amplifier." With Nagra premiering their integrated into these speakers at a very important international trade show, we'll assume that it had no issue driving them.

Also, Nagra's reference speakers in their factory system are Verity Audio 500lbs Lohengrin 4-ways with 15" woofers. They don't even have a secondary sissy system to test wuss amps in.

A Classic Amp on the bench | 2021 Forthwise system at Chinese high-end show combining Nagra electronics with Diesis and Wilson-Benesch speakers

So let's consider this point made: the Classic INT must be serious enough. To wrap introductions, with Lac Leman as perfect backdrop for Nagra's Lausanne digs, I superimposed their former pyramids and fin-capped MSA. Today's Classic amps show simpler. Their styling aims at long-lived cosmetic relevance with plain elegance, not extravagance just because a designer could pencil it and Nagra knew how to build it. Restraint can be its own reward. Here it even means stackability.

For some Exicon endorsement from German competitor Ivo Linnenberg, "the lateral Mosfets of my Allegro and Liszt amps sound so incredibly fine because they're so ridiculously fast and linear. Very low and particularly linear capacitance between drain, source and gate is the main reason. With most if not all other Mosfets, this unavoidable capacitance is extremely voltage dependent. That introduces much unwanted distortion especially at high frequencies. The drawback with these lateral versus vertical Mosfets or bipolars is their higher impedance. That makes it difficult to build a brute-force amplifier with otherwise very fine parts."