Audio Stutter/Cracking/Popping

Audio stuttering/cracking/popping ever since Endwalker was updated into FFXIV on December 3rd, 2021. The issue was made worse from Patch 6.0.1. on December 21st, 2021. There has no relief from this, and it's starting to affect me irl with headaches and migraines. The constant radio static is making it harder and harder to play FF14.... :/

■Date & Time: 12/24/2021 12:20 PM EST
■Frequency: Constantly
■Retainer name: n/a
■NPC name: Every single one
■Monster name: Every single one
■Class/Level: EVERYTHING
■Party or solo: All of it
■In-game time: Consistently
■Area and coordinates: Every zone/instance
■Housing: Every zone/instance
■Platform: Windows..

■Steps to try to fix the issue (none have worked):
- Tried multiple fixes here via Official Forums
- Tried steps listed in lodestone patch notes
- Tried solutions I saw on Reddit and Facebook
- Tried solutions in this thread here: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...-popping-issue
- Went through each and every page, trying to see if I missed anything. I refuse to go into BIOS settings, because I am not knowledgeable enough to mess with the settings.
- Tried reinstalling the entire game, issue still persists.
- Not sure what else I can try at this point.
- Only "fix" is have everything muted until a solution is found.

■ Questions from Zhexos's posts from this thread: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...06#post5773506
1. What are your Character and Object Quantity current set to?
Low, due to so many people being online. Did try to see if there was a difference between all settings. Audio stuttering still persists regardless.

2. What other applications do you have running in the background while playing FFXIV?
Discord, Firefox, Windows 10 background processes. Ran without any other applications, stuttering still persists.

3. Is your audio device set as the Default Device?
It is.

4. Would the issue persist when playing the game in DirectX 9?
Tried that, no difference.

5. If you use a gamepad, does the issue persist when you unplug the gamepad?
Don't use one, so N/A

6. Does the issue persist when you have the in-game Equalizer Mode set to Standard?
Has been set to standard. Tried the other options, but still persists.

7. Does the issue persist when the Listening Position is set closer to the Character?
It does. Doesn't matter what settings I have tried. I tested on a few different alts/characters I own, but it's still the same. I even tried doing duties from different expansions to see if there was a difference. The same thing is happening, regardless of what trial, dungeon, or raid I do. It's persistent in everything combat and world wise.

8. Please copy/paste your system information.
=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (19041.vb_release.191206-1406)
SYSTEM_CPU AMD FX(tm)-8350 Eight-Core Processor (8 CPUs), ~4.0GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 8 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 4
SYSTEM_BIOS 0501
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY 16281.496MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 32665.496MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 222.485GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 32.283GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE D:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 223.568GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 72.190GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE R:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 2775.124GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 2187.919GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY1
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 4043.500 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 8140.748 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 27.21.0014.5671
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 9/29/2020 19:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY2
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 4043.500 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 8140.748 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 27.21.0014.5671
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 9/29/2020 19:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_SOUND Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {754A3902-0836-4CA6-B701-1253479B111A}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.1.7692
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 12/10/2015 19:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {B4AE51DA-6262-492F-8745-0E3910187BE7}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.1.7692
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 12/10/2015 19:00:00
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 8 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {100FBCD0-9283-11EB-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME SteelSeries Apex M500
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 265 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {10111C60-9283-11EB-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME SteelSeries Apex M500 Gaming Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 4096 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {1011B8A0-9283-11EB-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME SteelSeries Apex M500
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 265 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {101254E0-9283-11EB-8005444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME SteelSeries Apex M500 Gaming Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0

-=-=-=-=-=-=- Proccess Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield Installation Information\{E6931688-DA2B-4E16-8539-3D323D69C677}\AiChargerPlus.exe 000032D4
C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\Update Core\NvBackend.exe 000030F0
C:\Program Files (x86)\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\boot\ffxivlauncher.exe 000036E0
C:\Program Files (x86)\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\boot\ffxivsysinfo64.exe 00000C0C
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe 00001BDC
C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RtkNGUI64.exe 000031BC
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.YourPhone_1.21111.123.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\YourPhone.exe 00002C58
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ZuneVideo_10.21111.10511.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\Video.UI.exe 000032CC
C:\ProgramData\Breez\Discord\app-1.0.9003\Discord.exe 00001B88
C:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe 000013D0
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 00003324
C:\WINDOWS\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchApp.exe 00002880
C:\WINDOWS\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe 000007F8
C:\WINDOWS\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\InputApp\TextInputHost.exe 00002F50
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe 00001FB0
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ApplicationFrameHost.exe 00000D28
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SettingSyncHost.exe 00001D78
C:\WINDOWS\system32\sihost.exe 000010A8
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe 000011F0
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskhostw.exe 0000161C
C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe 00000D34
C:\Windows\System32\CompPkgSrv.exe 00001104
C:\Windows\System32\RuntimeBroker.exe 00000964
C:\Windows\System32\SecurityHealthSystray.exe 00003048
C:\Windows\System32\oobe\UserOOBEBroker.exe 000014F8
C:\Windows\System32\smartscreen.exe 00000A08