External CD player unable to play CDs

Hmmm.. What happens when you try?

What troubleshooting have you done?

Reboot the computer.

Make sure the CD disc is inserted label side up.

Try another port for the CD drive.

Try a different cable for the CD drive.

Disconnect all other devices and try the CD drive again.

Try playing a CD while logged into your Mac with a different user. Does that work?

Does the CD drive work with any other computer?

Play CDs and DVDs on Mac - Apple Support (CA)

Make sure that System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files & Folders has an entry for Music, with a switch for Removable Volumes that is turned ON.

If there is no Music / Removable Volumes entry, you may need to run the Music application, to get Music to ask whether you want to give it this permission. (I believe that back in Sonoma days, it might have been possible for someone to add this permission directly from System Settings. I upgraded straight from Ventura to Sequoia and tried to turn the permission on immediately, but could find no way to do it until I ran Music.)