GPU is possibly the reason behind distorted audio and crashing

As someone who has been experiencing the audio issues like many others since this release one thing I started to notice as a major issue was this. In certain areas the GPU was causing the game audio to be perfectly fine and like it normally would before 6.0, however, in certain areas and parts of areas the GPU then therefore starts to reach a way higher than normal % like around a 98/99%, in it doing this it will start to slowly increase your temp in the GPU where it will start the distort the audio, slow music down drastically, voice lines and maybe more. Being that I just experienced this like around 20 minutes ago it will possibly crash your PC because the GPU % is around a constant 98/99% while increasing the temp which forces a restart if in any area or worse a cutscene. To me this is more of an issue somewhere that is causing the GPU to load way more assets than should be which is creating the issue but not enough information by myself to back up this.

So my question to anyone experiencing any audio issues is this patch 6.0, are you also experiencing your GPU doing the exact same thing where it will be around a 97% or more with the temp rising where the audio is distorted when you go to certain areas or enter certain places or more and have you experienced your pc crash when the audio was distorted and was checking your GPU in the process before the crash happened?

Leaving this so I can easily track and report later.
The GPU thing is a good call. I'mma keep track of my usage and report on it's numbers.
I DID, as you said, experience a hard crash in my computer where it froze completely, monitors went black and only a hard reboot could restore it, so you might be onto something.

Nope, my GPU is fine and it's only my audio distorting.

I'm getting some minor audio lag, and a bit of crackling once in a while, nothing game breaking for me. GPU utilization never breaks 60% ever as I'm synced to 60Hz to match my monitors. I did however, see a post that implied that disabling NVIDIA high definition audio may help (Not sure if this an NVIDIA only issue). So normally I have this disabled as it has caused issues in the past with XIV, but I checked and lo and behold it's enabled. Now due to my work schedule and login queue I have not been able to verify if it's an issue but perhaps give it a go. Unless you are outputting audio through your monitor there's nothing to loose.

I'm using the Nvidia HD audio and i'm using 1 of my 3 monitors speakers. I have an gtx 970 and using DX11 for FFXIV. Haven't had 1 crash yet playing the game and haven't noticed a single audio issue. In other games years ago nvidia HD audio was the issue with crashing and sound. So i used to always uninstall the nvidia hd audio driver as disabling it didn't help. But everything seems perfect the last few years with their audio driver. I do have realtek audio and Focusrite audio as well and no conflicts with having all 3 running. So not really sure what the problem is. Note i'm only playing in the ARR areas atm.

I am not experiencing those audio issues. But i have also a real sound card in my PC. It is a Soundblaster Z.

Cheers