Audio crashing entirely

Hello,

[Issue]

Since the release of Endwalker, my audio suddenly stops and then restarts. This isn't just FFXIV, this is everything, spotify, youtube, etc.

So far I've not been able to replicate the issue when FFXIV is not running. Everything "seems" fine while the game isn't running.

There is no specific time for the issue to occur, it seems to just occur randomly. It could be within a few minutes or even to a few hours until it happens.

[Errors/Warnings]

I cannot see any particular log within the Event Viewer Logs at the time the issue occurs.

The only correlation I am able to find is that within Device Manager, when the issue does occur, one "HID-Compliant Consumer Control Device" and 3 "HID-compliant vendor-defined device" show with the yellow warning icon.

https://i.imgur.com/Xezr4oQ.png

When opening the "HID-Compliant Consumer Control Device" driver through Device Manager it states:

"Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)
To fix this problem, reconnect this hardware device to the computer."

https://i.imgur.com/HwKFgsc.png

When opening the "HID-compliant vendor-defined driver" through Device Manager it states:

"Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)
To fix this problem, reconnect this hardware device to the computer."

https://i.imgur.com/mLksTbJ.png

Within 1-2 seconds it goes back to normal and audio works OK. Though audio needs to be played again.

[Resolutions tried]

Things I've tried:
- New headset (different make/model).
- Different USB ports.
- Rebooting.
- Changing Audio settings (disabling all but one destination, disabling enhancements, etc).
- Reinstalled FFXIV.
- Complete re-install of Windows 10.
- File System Check (before and after reinstall)

Any thoughts?
At this time I'm unsure if it is an issue with Endwalker (as this is when it started) or maybe a hardware issue.
Though I can see many reported audio issues, I can't seem to find any matching this one. It is always audio popping/crackling or an issue specifically with FFXIV audio (everything else working fine).

Kind Regards
Flappers

I too was having audio issues since EW . First tried to lower the bitrate of the audio as its defaulted to 24bit 48000mhz . I got the glitch again a day or so later.

I removed the realtek Audio Console app . Let windows reinstall the driver after i removed it via the device manager . Then inside the windows sound control panel disabled the audio enhancements tick box. Its been fine for a while now , so something they added ( probably that 3d binaural sound app you can subscribe too) doesn't play nice with sound drivers.

Try disabling the Nvidia High Defintion Audio Driver.