Music app on MacOS does not play CDs

[Duplicate of Music app on MacOS does not play a CD - Apple Community]

2022 M2 Macbook Air, also 2021 M1 iMac. Both running Sequoia 15.2. Music 1.5.2.56.

External optical drive is OWC "Slim", connected directly via USB cable.

CD mounts correctly, Music app opens, all means of trying to "play" (play button, doubleclicking track) are non-functional. Music can import the CD, but I do not want to do this. Other applications (Quicktime) can play the CD, but I don't want to do this either because it is only 1 track at a time.

I have checked Privacy and Security >> Files and Folders >> Music and Remote Volumes is selected. Have cycled this on and off several times.

I have tried booting into safe mode.

I have tried deleting .plist files with "music" or "media" in the file name.

I spent 20' on the phone with Apple Support and they said I would have to call the optical drive maker because it sounded like a "compatibility issue", which is nonsense given that the OS and other applications can read the disk just fine, and even Music can import, it just won't play.