Fast Track Duo - Clicking and cutout while playing audio

[marbleduck]

I have just reinstalled Windows to a new SSD. When I attempt to play audio, it starts by crackling among the actual audio; this subsequently devolves into nothing but distorted popping noises. Since it's easier to play than it is to describe, I put my phone's mic near one of my headphones with audio playing. Here's what it sounds like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK9eZDsVBAM

Anyhow, here's the Sandra report:

[spoiler]SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : beatrice-v
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Computer
Model : EVGA
Serial Number : To be fille***********
Chassis : Desktop
Mainboard : EVGA 152-HR-E979
Serial Number : To be fille***********
BIOS : AMI (OEM) 4.6.5 04/30/2014
Intel vPro : 9.01.00.1120
Total Memory : 16GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790K CPU @ 4.00GHz (4C 8T 4.19GHz/4.4GHz, 4.2GHz IMC/4.4GHz, 4x 256kB L2, 8MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1150

Chipset
Memory Controller : Intel Core (Haswell) DRAM Controller 100MHz, 2x 8GB DIMM DDR3 1.87GHz 128-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Corsair CMD16GX3M4A1866C9 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-14900U DDR3-1866 (9-9-9-25 4-33-10-5)
Memory Module : Corsair CMD16GX3M4A1866C9 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-14900U DDR3-1866 (9-9-9-25 4-33-10-5)
Memory Module : Corsair CMD16GX3M4A1866C9 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-14900U DDR3-1866 (9-9-9-25 4-33-10-5)
Memory Module : Corsair CMD16GX3M4A1866C9 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-14900U DDR3-1866 (9-9-9-25 4-33-10-5)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : HYO
(2560x1440, 27.2")
Video Adapter : 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (15CU 2880SP SM5.0 875MHz/1.2GHz, 1.5MB L2, 3GB 7GHz 384-bit, PCIe 3.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
CUDA GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (2880SP 15C 875MHz/1.2GHz, 1.5MB L2, 3GB 7GHz 384-bit)
CUDA GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (2880SP 15C 875MHz/1.2GHz, 1.5MB L2, 3GB 7GHz 384-bit)
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (2880SP 15C 875MHz/1.2GHz, 1.5MB L2, 3GB 7GHz 384-bit)
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (2880SP 15C 875MHz/1.2GHz, 1.5MB L2, 3GB 7GHz 384-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (2880SP 15C 875MHz/1.2GHz, 1.5MB L2, 3GB 7GHz 384-bit)

Storage Devices
SAMSUNG HD103SJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 32MB Cache) : 932GB (D:)
SAMSUNG HD103SJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 32MB Cache) : 932GB (E:)
INTEL SSDSA2CT040G3 (40GB, SATA300, 2.5", SSD) : 37GB (C:)
INTEL SSDSC2MH120A2 (239.9GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD) : 223GB (G:)
USB Flash Disk (8GB, USB2) : 7GB (F:)

Logical Storage Devices
Recording (D:) : 932GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ SAMSUNG HD103SJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 32MB Cache)
Windows Storage (E:) : 932GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ SAMSUNG HD103SJ (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 32MB Cache)
Hard Disk (C:) : 37GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ INTEL SSDSA2CT040G3 (40GB, SATA300, 2.5", SSD)
SSD Storage (G:) : 223GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ INTEL SSDSC2MH120A2 (239.9GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD)
Removable Drive (F:) : 7GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ USB Flash Disk (8GB, USB2)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : EVGA 9 Series Chipset Family Z97 LPC Controller
Audio Device : Intel 9 Series Chipset Family HD Audio Controller
Audio Device : EVGA GK110 HDMI Audio [GeForce GTX Titan]
Audio Codec : nVidia GeForce 6800 XT
Disk Controller : EVGA 9 Series Chipset Family SATA Controller [AHCI Mode]
Disk Controller : Marvell 91xx SATA 6G Controller
USB Controller 1 : Intel 9 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI Controller
USB Controller 2 : Intel 9 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI Controller #2
USB Controller 3 : Intel 9 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI Controller #1
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4 (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)

Peripherals
Media Player : USB Flash Disk (7.47GB)
Media Player : SAMSUNG HD103SJ (931.51GB)
Media Player : MARVELL Raid VD 0 (223.42GB)
Media Player : SAMSUNG HD103SJ (931.51GB)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Intel(R) I210 Gigabit Network Connection (Ethernet)
Network Adapter : Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I217-LM (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 8.1 Professional 6.03.9600
Platform Compliance : x64
[/spoiler]

Note that the CPU is actually running at 4.8 Ghz, and the memory, at 2400Mhz.

This is a clean install. All necessary drivers are installed, including the latest Fast Track Duo driver.

Of the potential solutions suggested in the Troubleshooting guide, I have done everything relevant to this product, though I did not set my processor to run at the highest P-state all the time, as I do not wish to accelerate the chip's degradation as a result of the voltage required to maintain this.

I have tested the FTD on another computer, and it worked without error.

Any ideas as to what would cause this? This is the same exact computer that I had been using this device on for months, so it can't be a hardware compatibility issue.

[JoelG]

Are you using the latest drivers for the FT Duo? Can you try running the processor/RAM at the normal clock rates (verify that it isn't anything related to that)?

Here's the Optimization Guide, I think you mentioned going through it, but be sure you do and especially disable any power saving features!

Also, if you have the FT Duo connected to a USB 3 port, try it on a USB2 2 port, or with a USB 2 powered hub.

Joel