It's analog output to be routed through the sound card to your speakers. Back then, this was the normal way to hear CD audio, and it's still the only way that never fails. Later, CD drives became able to read CD audio digitally. This was supported by Win98 and up - if the drive was able to, but must be enabled by the user. When using digital read-out of CD audio, the cable is not needed (at the expense of additional CPU usage).

Older drives often have a Play button on the front panel. That's a quick way to test CD audio.

ps: if you can't even use the CD player, it has nothing to do with the cable. There's no way to detect the presence of the cable by software.

I see. So then it's probably a software problem. Also, the drive seems a little sketchy and won't read certain cds as it is. Maybe I just need to find a nice brand new audio cd to test it with and confirm functionality with a 3rd party application also.

I haven't eliminated the possibility that I may have the cable backwards. I know the pinout is Right-Ground-Ground-Left but when it comes to wiring, I never assume anything... seen all kinds of weirdness before. Especially since ESS cards are known to have the channels swapped already. I think that's why there are 2 analog headers. In case the cable is keyed, one of the headers does not have a socket on it so you can reverse it.

Gahhhrrrlic, are you running win9x or win31? If the latter, does your cddrive work at all with data cds? ESS AudioRack CDplayer being grayed out in my experience, means than you don't have the DOS CD-ROM drivers loaded for win31 to see your drive (vide-cdd.sys & mscdexc.exe). Once you get AudioRack CD working, make sure the CD volume in your soundcard mixer is turned up. I also assume your sound card is working as well (windows 'dings' etc).

As for the cable, just find one that fits both the CD drive and the jack labled CD-IN on your sound card, and you should be good wiring wise.

Cheers! Bellarmine

And if the cable is connected backwards, it's not a problem either. Since the inner two are GND, it will only swap the channels.

Not always RGGL/LGGR, it can vary and it's best to check the markings or documentation. Same with the cables, not always straight. If the drive is a very late one, DVD era, it may simply not have functional analog audio.