Audio popping issue

[polyphanes]

Greetings...

I'm going to submit a bug report in FFXIV shortly and make a separate forum post in the link provided, but I'll also provide the same information requested here as well for extra visibility. I find it unusual that it would be highlighted in the mod reply that computer specs or CPU age would have been an issue to single out, given how many people here have commented on how widespread these issues are across many different CPU models and computer builds playing on a variety of settings from minimum to maximum. I'll provide my FFXIV 6.0 benchmark information as well as part of the information to show that FFXIV is quite happy playing on my machine as it is.

0. System specifications and other information
Using the 6.0 benchmark on maximum settings with nothing else running on my computer except mandatory Windows 10 background processes, I get a score of: 8714 with total loading time of 24.203s (rated High)

Using the 6.0 benchmark on maximum settings with my usual applications running in the foreground of FFXIV, I get a score of: 8069 with total loading time of 27.579 (rated High)

CPU model (AMD FX-6300 6core 3.5Ghz) is 9 years old (released Oct 23 2012)
CPU has been in use since Oct 2015

Using the Immerse Gamepack for FFXIV installed, audio stuttering is minimized, but still occurs when transitioning from one zone to another as well as in instanced fights, albeit at a reduced rate from the normal/default setting without the gamepack.
See description in separate forum post here:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...dback-and-help

1. What are your Character and Object Quantity current set to?
Maximum, but audio stuttering also occurs with the same frequency and severity on minimum

2. What other applications do you have running in the background while playing FFXIV?
Chrome and Discord generally plus usual Windows 10 background processes, but it also runs with only FFXIV and mandatory Windows 10 processes running as well, including with FFXIV given high or realtime priority through Windows Task Manager

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

4. Would the issue persist when playing the game in DirectX 9?
Significantly minimized, but it does happen, albeit to a level as with DX11 and the Immerse Gamepack for FFXIV installed

5. If you use a gamepad, does the issue persist when you unplug the gamepad?
N/A (I don't use a gamepad)

6. Does the issue persist when you have the in-game Equalizer Mode set to Standard?
Yes (though only somewhat less than with using non-standard equalizer modes)

7. Does the issue persist when the Listening Position is set closer to the Character?
Yes; same issue persists at full-camera position, full-character position, and any point in between, though changing it to anything besides full-camera *and* swinging the camera around briefly seems to "reset" or lightly alleviate the stuttering, but only briefly and only slightly before resuming at full strength, and that only sometimes depending on other actions nearby

8. Please copy/paste your system information.
(cut from forum post, provided in bug report)