Severe audio popping and distortion in combat and crowded areas

[LunarLotus]

Date & Time: 3:33PM PST, Dec. 22 2021
Frequency: Always. From Endwalker's Early Access start until update 6.01, it happened Sometimes. Before the 6.0 update, it never happened.
World name: Coeurl
Character name: Lunar Lotus
Retainer name: None
NPC name: None
Monster name: None
Class/Level: Reaper/90, Summoner/58, Dancer/81, Culinarian/90, Alchemist/90
Party or solo: Solo and in parties of any size
In-game time: Any
Area and coordinates: Occurs in every overworld area, dungeon, trial, and raid I've been to since the 6.01 update. The audio distortion happens 100% of the time during combat in The Mothercrystal and Asphodelos: The Fourth Circle.
Housing: None
Steps:
1. Start combat or crafting. The more other sound effects are playing in the vicinity, the more likely it is for audio distortion to start, in my experience. It happens most frequently in dungeons, trials, raids, and when crafting in a crowded area like Radz-at-Han.
2. Issue continues even after: switching audio devices, lowering the Hz/bitrate setting for the audio device, setting the sound equalizer mode to default, closing other processes, lowering graphics settings, and running in DX9 mode.

Connection Specs
- Type of internet connection/provider: Xfinity
- Modem maker/model number: Xfinity, model number unknown

■ PC Specs

To obtain the system information, open the FFXIV launcher and select Config → System Information → Display.

-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Home 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 BIOS Date: 07/11/13 15:44:31 Ver: 04.06.05
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY 8089.441MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 16281.441MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 1862.398GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 176.340GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE E:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 931.387GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 154.853GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE Q:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 931.387GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 154.853GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY1
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 2988.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 4044.721 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (144Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 30.00.0014.9729
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 12/14/2021 16:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_SOUND CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {2921CD8F-DD47-4DDD-AF33-5081C19C6934}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME vbaudio_cable64_win7.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.0.3.5
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 9/1/2014 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Line (Voicemod Virtual Audio Device (WDM))
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {73091B31-4CD8-47A1-A3E8-9C451709F800}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME vmdrv.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 2020.5.15.0
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 5/14/2020 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {F66AB154-E03E-4B9A-AA68-36C58CDA8CF8}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.1.6699
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 8/6/2012 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Realtek Digital Output(Optical) (Realtek High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {7A99D8A4-5952-49F7-9BAF-F115E7D608D5}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.1.6699
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 8/6/2012 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {5D179B9A-C369-403C-93D6-31C99CCA83D9}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.1.6699
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 8/6/2012 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Speakers (Sound BlasterX Katana)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {A47B0E12-E926-4D89-990C-E4C75C110ED4}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME USBAUDIO.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 10.0.19041.1202
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 8/25/2021 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Speakers (USB-BH209A)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {DB0531D6-1D78-419C-AA35-D683B31FFFF2}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME USBAUDIO.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 10.0.19041.1202
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 8/25/2021 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND VoiceMeeter Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter VAIO)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {8C9C7893-C815-4BD6-8E86-61A595D5E7C2}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME vbaudio_vmvaio64_win10.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 2.1.5.2
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 1/10/2019 16:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND XV240Y V (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {519FC966-951A-4C8C-BFFE-DFE138A44BB6}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.3.38.94
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 9/22/2021 16:00:00
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 {B4E44D70-77BC-11EB-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Sound BlasterX Katana
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {65753CC0-6902-11E3-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Razer Lycosa
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 573 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6578BF30-6902-11E3-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Razer Lycosa
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {B660DB50-77BC-11EB-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Sound BlasterX Katana
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 1 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 7 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6BB9FE10-A8F4-11EB-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Gaming Mouse G600
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {649CBB60-E87D-11E9-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB-BH209A
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 1 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0