In 1982 a friend and me visited Ricardo at 42 Parkside, Wimbledon to get a fabulous Oracle - unfortunately the turntable was for him, not for me! Around that time there were several alternatives for the Linn - the Pink Triangle, the Michel Gyrodeck that was more expensive than the Linn and later the Dunlop Systemdeck. I have owned them all, and later several Oracles ...
When Martin Colloms reviewed the Oracle in Hifi News, the issue included six full pages of Oracle advertisements - something unusual in the magazine. I attach two of them.
Later visits to Ricardo were unique moments. He his a connoisseur and sometimes had new and less known products hidden behind the curtains and would improvise a memorable listening session. I met him a month ago and he still keeps his passion and enthusiasm.
Is that how you found out about the A1 Micro? I never forget the first time I heard and saw Ricardo's A1, that room and that sound are still clear in my memory and more than 30 years later its still one of the greatest I heard. He still enjoys high end but he didn't show up for the last CES, a first for him in years. The A1 is still one of my favorite speakers, would have a pair now if not for horns and SETs. One thing for sure, Ricardo doesn't do anything in half measures, he set hi-fi news on fire!
david