If your CD-ROM drive supports "Digital Audio Extraction", then you will be able to play your audio CD's through the USB3. To find out if your CD-ROM supports this feature, it will be noted in the CD Music Tab: Start->Settings->Control Panel->Multimedia->CD Music Tab. Even if your drive does not support this feature, it may be possible to update your CD-ROM drivers to do this by installing an alternate CDFS.VXD file. Just do a search on the web under "Alternate CDFS.VXD" to learn more updating your CD-ROM with this capability.