Editorial May 2026

May 2026

There is a reason for the delay. I sat in an R10M cinema and wanted to write about it…

So I sat in an R10M cinema the other day.

What can I say? It’s not going to be rubbish is it? And it was super comfortable I won’t lie with custom made seats that do everything for you. These are not couches to be cut open to stuff dollar bills inside. No no. These are way better – completely automated hand made and full leather with the sort of price tag that if you have to ask you probably need to be stuffing your couches with dollars…

And when I say cinema, believe me I do mean Cinema with a capital C. The company in question is BNC Technology based in a super secret location in Johannesburg.

Everything is slick, customised and high end. The price includes everything however, from the super silent air conditioning through to the room within a room built to exacting acoustic specifications and of course the look and feel that the customer wants. There is no marriage or dependence on specific technology at this level and hence the end result will vary from system to system as customer preferences kick into gear.

Engagement is of course exactly as you would expect it to be. Complete and attention grabbing!

The intention however is to make the space so much more than just a place to watch movies. Music meetings day to day TV watching can all be accommodated and if you’re spending this kind of ammo on your AV experience I would wager that ensuring you spend at least some time in it would be a priority, and that such time is deeply valued by the returns that such a system can deliver.

From wall mounted speakers to automated hidden cabinetry that stores secret stashes of special bottles of whiskey there is something in a cinema built around you that will bring out the green eyed monster in all of us. There is a high degree of creativity in the room / system and if you can imagine it the chances are that the team can make it happen. It’s an experience to be sure and if you’re punching in the leagues of the upper end of home cinema then there is a whole new world awaiting you…

And just like that back to earth with a bump. My trusty Paradigm Sub blew a gasket, literally. It was quite the experience as it happened whilst I was listening. What happens is that all of a sudden you hear a wheeze coming from the sub, the bass disappears and your heart sinks. I do think that after all this time the fact that Paradigm still carry spares (and that I didn’t need any doing a quick repair myself) is a tick in the right box. Shout out to Paradigm for being awesome!

It all just goes to show. Hi-fi is as hands on as you care to make it, and can be as expensive as you can possibly imagine it to be! Find your space, fit in and just unwind and enjoy because in my mind anyway isn’t that the object of the exercise?

Be happy!

William Kelly

Publisher