@neil - a question you might help with, please.
I (maybe incorrectly, forgive me if so) understand from your posts here that you prefer to buy music, etc, outright, as I do.
If CD, presumably, you transcode to ‘portable’ formats.
I’ve used various CD transcoders (most recent being xld). Over past 9-12mths, the process has slowed. My CD/DVD-R drive is not showing any errors. Are you aware of any recent protection/obfuscation measures being ‘baked’ into audio CDs?
(Before I look for a replacement drive.)