A Life in Sound - Nigel Edwards
by Maja P.
March 6th 2026
I have had the privileged experience of listening and mixing audio for broadcast on high end professional systems, and know I am happy and amazed at the reproduction and audio fidelity that I achieve in a domestic setting delivered by my cherished DALI monitors.”
From broadcast engineer to devoted listener
Sound and vision have shaped Nigel Edwards’ life from the very beginning of his career. After studying electronics at Polytechnic, he went on to work as an engineer in television production before becoming a senior editor for a major UK broadcaster. High-quality audio has always been central to both his professional and personal world.
Now retired, Nigel divides his time between creating art and ceramics and immersing himself in music. Whether he is working in his studio or listening purely for pleasure in his lounge, music remains a daily companion, reproduced through his cherished DALI RUBICON 6 loudspeakers.
“I’ve mixed and monitored audio on high-end professional systems,” Nigel explains, “and I’m still amazed at the fidelity and musical integrity I can achieve at home.”
Early influences and a passion for Hi-Fi
Born in 1958, Nigel grew up during the creative explosion of the 1960s and 70s. His mother’s love of music meant the house was always filled with sound, from the radio to a Dansette record player spinning 45rpm singles, including early recordings by Ray Charles.
As a teenager, Nigel’s fascination with electronics led him to build crystal radio sets and restore valve radios, staying up late to tune into pirate stations such as Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg. By 15, he had built his first hi-fi system, complete with belt-driven turntable and transistor amplifier. Stereo was a revelation and he was hooked.
An eclectic ear
Nigel’s taste in music defies easy categorisation, shaped by decades of listening across genres. Jazz currently features heavily, with artists such as Joe Jackson, Stan Getz and Hugh Masekela in regular rotation. He continues to revisit seminal albums including:
The Duke - Joe Jackson
Hope - Hugh Masekela
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Recordings by Stan Getz
Streaming has broadened his horizons further. Through TIDAL, and DALI’s curated playlists, he has discovered artists such as Patricia Barber and Jocelyn B. Smith, appreciating the integrity of well-recorded, high-resolution productions.
Formats old and new
Nigel’s system is centred around the DALI RUBICON 6, driven by an Arcam SA30.
His sources include:
A Thorens TD160 B Mk II with SME Mk II tonearm and Ortofon 510 MkII cartridge
A Roksan K3
High-resolution streaming via TIDAL through the Arcam’s internal DAC
Television via HDMI ARC
While vinyl retains nostalgic charm, Nigel acknowledges its technical limitations. CD offers excellent quality, but high-resolution streaming has become his preferred format. The Arcam’s DAC renders hi-res FLAC and MQA files with remarkable dynamic range and clarity.
Combined with DALI’s SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) technology in the RUBICON 6, the result is controlled dynamics, openness and impressive separation free from colouration.
Nigel Edward's Setup
DALI RUBICON 6, driven by an Arcam SA30.
Sources include:
A Thorens TD160 B Mk II with SME Mk II tonearm and Ortofon 510 MkII cartridge
A Roksan K3
High-resolution streaming via TIDAL through the Arcam’s internal DAC
Television via HDMI ARC
Music that moves him
Certain recordings hold lifelong emotional resonance for Nigel:
“Trilogy” - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
“What a Wonderful World” - Louis Armstrong
“The Boxer” - Simon & Garfunkel
The Köln Concert - Keith Jarrett
“Oh Lonesome Me” - Ray Charles
Each piece connects to a moment in his life, from childhood memories of playing singles on his mother’s record player to formative teenage discoveries.
Among his most treasured live experiences are Paul Simon’s Graceland tour at the Royal Albert Hall and an electrifying performance by Buddy Rich at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
One unforgettable memory stands apart: sitting alone in the stalls of the London Palladium in 1987, listening as Elton John rehearsed “Candle in the Wind”, an impromptu private performance that remains deeply personal.
Discover DALI RUBICON 6
The DALI RUBICON 6 is a now-discontinued floorstanding loudspeaker, designed to deliver powerful, detailed sound for larger listening rooms. It features two 6½-inch wood-fibre woofers, DALI’s hybrid dome-and-planar tweeter module for wide, airy high frequencies, and the company’s SMC magnet technology to reduce distortion and enhance clarity.
The evolution of a system
Nigel’s approach to Hi-Fi has always been careful and considered: researching reviews, attending demonstrations and visiting exhibitions such as the Bristol Hi-Fi Show.
A pivotal moment came with the addition of the Bluesound Node, which introduced him to high-quality streaming. That step ultimately led to a complete system refresh and the discovery of DALI’s modern loudspeaker technology.
Today, his main system reflects decades of experience, curiosity and refinement built around the belief that musical truth and emotional connection matter above all.
An open mind
When asked what he plans to explore next, Nigel’s response is simple: “The mind is like an umbrella – it works better when open.”
Currently on his discovery list are artists such as Damien Rice, John Campbell and The Yuri Honing Trio - alongside continued listening to Patricia Barber.
For Nigel Edwards, music is not background sound. It is memory, emotion, craft and discovery - brought vividly to life through DALI.
Photo Credit: Nigel Edwards