Please PROPERLY address audio stuttering issue

[FatalCharm]

After 2 weeks of waiting, however, we logged in the game only to discover that the update didn't change ANYTHING in regards to the audio stuttering/lagging/crackling issue..

Not true. My problem with stuttering audio (which is coming and going) just started today after the 6.01 patch. So I guess it changed something. Gee, thanks.

[minopoki]

Not true. My problem with stuttering audio (which is coming and going) just started today after the 6.01 patch. So I guess it changed something. Gee, thanks.

Fair. I made a quick edit to the original post stating that information, so that can see that the problem is even worse than we first imagined.

[MStowastiqVahlshdeh]

I support this thread. I have had the issue since the game launched but it worsened after today's patch.
I used the settings in today's patch notes and it worsened the problem.

[Coraha]

Adding my voice to the chorus here. I have had the audio stuttering issue since launch, but by turning the listening position to 100, it was made manageable; With the launch of 6.01, it's become even worse. It's made the fourth fight of the new raid almost unbearable. Previously, it only happened in fights, but now I get it when loading into certain populated areas as well.

[ScarlettSwyrwyb]

I've also had the same experience, I had some minor sound issues in fights with 8 or more people in them before 6.01 but 6.01 has made the sound effects and music in even light parties totally garbled.

[Vyncet]

Been having issues since early access. Cutscenes were unbearable to listen to.
At some point during the first week the audio bugged and locked up my entire game, then subsequently crashed my computer. I'm not sure if these issues sped up the process, but my hard drive began to fail hard after this. It was rather old, however I had no issues and no hint of issues prior to the audio and fps lag of Endwalker.

Since replacing the HDD and also getting an SSD, I completely reinstalled the game and this time did not install the new paid spatial audio feature. The stuttering still continues, as well as the fps drops. It's not *as bad* as it was on my old hard drive, but it's still a bit disorienting. I've tried everything except switching to DX9, and the reason I haven't is because I've seen too many people say that switching did not help or they were unable to even open the game after a while even if they swapped back to DX11. I don't want to risk that happening to me, since at the moment I can still play the game, it's just highly inconvenient.

I hoped the patch would fix things and while I had no stutters the first three floors of Pandaemonium, the 4th floor was a disaster. Everything from the BGM to the combat sounds were stuttered entirely. At that point I tried the suggestion of lowering the hz/bitrate, and that removed all sound from my game. It stopped the fps drops that accompanied the audio lag for the fourth floor at least.

Since relogging I've had audio stutters happening again, whether it be in dungeons or even me progressing the MSQ on my alt and fighting small mobs at destination points.
I'm currently running an AMD FX-4300 and while I know that's old and will soon be replaced, I have no problems with any other games and I never had problems with FFXIV until 6.0. I wondered if it was an AMD problem but I've been seeing people with Intel describing these issues as well.

[Lagunow]

I have been complaining on reddit nonstop since day one about this issue, but I'm going to comment here as well since it has more visibility and to help keep this thread on first page.

edit: video showing the problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0zlmOvNnEQ
There's also this weird thing where the sound fixes itself after a specific attack, then goes back to being broken.

I also have an AMD FX-8350, and this is exactly the same issue I'm experiencing since 6.0 went live. This annoying sound is all I hear during combat and cutscenes on small chambers and tight spaces. I tried to tough it up until level 90, but I was starting to get sensory overload and I refuse to play muted or skip custcenes so I just dropped it altogether.

[thesm1l3y]

Bumping for awareness. I've had this issue since EW Early Access and it only got worse with the patch. I'm on the verge of unsubbing till this is fixed. I haven't continued the story since EW dropped and I'm still in SB, stuck for weeks now.
Fix this asap, it's absolutely unplayable like this!

[Kazemon15]

People kept going on about how good the music is for the 4th Boss of the new raid is and all I could hear is stupid stuttering and can't engage in any input for the music because there is none! Only stuttering. Do not disrespect Soken like this and keep ignoring the problem. All his hard work from the hospital bed for nothing... I feel sorry for all his hard work.

[Fyxation]

Welp. Before I started the game today, I read the patch notes and turned down my audio settings to a lower quality as suggested (this is something I had already tried to no avail). After waiting in queue for 2 hours, I did a FATE and the audio is still awful if not worse. After weeks of dealing with this, I'm somewhere between disappointed and disgusted.