The Jamaican villa of Daniel Craig’s Bond is a study in doing without: a wooden house and a stereo that wants a disc rather than a subscription. The Marantz CD6000 OSE is part of that set, a CD player from the turn of the millennium that was built to sound better than its price suggested. It is, in our view, still a sensible way to play discs.
In the film
Bond keeps a Marantz stereo in the living room of his wooden villa in No Time To Die (2021). The CD player is one of its components, and an OSE or KI Signature badge on the front panel marks the edition. We cannot say with certainty which it is, and set photographs rather than the finished film are our evidence. The amplifier is an OSE, which makes the OSE the likelier of the two.
The details of the Marantz CD6000 OSE
An edition, not a new model. OSE stands for Original Special Edition. Outside, it is the standard CD6000 with a small badge on the right of the front panel. All the changes are inside, which suits a player meant for people who care more about the music than the casework.
Marantz’s own output modules. The OSE uses discrete HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Active Module) circuits for its filter and output stages, enclosed in copper shielding, where the standard player uses off-the-shelf op amps. Marantz built its reputation on this kind of detail.
Better capacitors and wire. A review from the time counted eight Elna Silmic filter capacitors, and the transformer is said to use oxygen-free copper wire. Some audiophiles dispute how much of this you can hear, and we make no claim either way. The parts are good regardless.
A stiffer body. The case has a double bottom and an internal stabiliser bar to damp vibration. Together they bring the weight to about 5.8kg, roughly 1.3kg more than the standard model. It sits on a shelf like something that means to stay there.
Finish. It was made in black or champagne. Champagne is the warmer of the two and suits a room full of wood.
Owning it now
This is a pre-owned purchase, and an honest one. Our button runs an eBay search for the exact model. The player is no longer made, so you are buying from a specialist hi-fi dealer or a private seller. Ask about the condition of the disc tray and how reliably it reads discs, and ask for a photograph of the front panel so you can confirm it is the OSE and not the standard model.
What to pair it with. A review from the time found the OSE’s treble a little sharper than the standard player’s and suggested pairing it with relaxed, warm-sounding speakers and amplification. We would take that advice. A matching Marantz amplifier, as in the film, is the obvious partner, and a pair of gentle bookshelf speakers does the rest.
Which version. We would choose the OSE over the standard CD6000 for the build. The KI Signature sits above it, named for Marantz designer Ken Ishiwata, and is a dearer version, so check the badge to know which you are buying.
Where it belongs. In a room with some silence in it: a library, a study, a villa. Put it on a solid shelf, away from the radiator, and play whole albums on it.
Specifications
| Model | Marantz CD6000 OSE (Original Special Edition) |
|---|---|
| Finish | Black or champagne |
| Conversion | Dual differential 1-bit DACs (two SM5872) |
| Output stage | Discrete HDAM modules with copper shielding |
| Mechanism | CDM-12.1 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz to 20kHz |
| Dynamic range | 98dB |
| Weight | About 5.8kg |
| Status | No longer in production; available pre-owned. There is no current RRP. |
For the maker’s current range, see Marantz.
Questions
Does Bond use a Marantz CD6000 OSE in No Time To Die?
Most likely, yes. A Marantz CD6000 player appears in the stereo set in Bond’s Jamaican villa, as seen in the set photographer’s pictures. The OSE badge is how it is identified, and a KI Signature version cannot be entirely ruled out.
What does OSE mean on a Marantz CD player?
OSE stands for Original Special Edition. It is the standard CD6000 with upgraded internal parts, including better capacitors and a stiffer case. The KI Signature, named for Marantz designer Ken Ishiwata, sits above it.
Can you still buy a new Marantz CD6000 OSE?
No. It is no longer in Marantz’s range, so it is bought pre-owned. Check the tray and the disc reading before you pay.
Is the CD6000 OSE worth buying today?
For a man who still owns discs, yes. A review from the time praised its detail and its smooth, quiet tray, and noted treble on the sharp side, so match it with warm speakers.
More from Bond’s world of listening and gadgets is in our gadgets and electronics collection, with the rest of Craig’s Bond in No Time To Die and on the Daniel Craig page.
