PS5 Audio Distorting

Audio was working perfectly before the Winter Offensive update.   After the update, my audio is distorting/crackling during explosions and gunfire, also in the respawn screen (even if it’s far off in the distance and quiet, it’s still distorted).  My friends report much better directional queues and quality so great job on that, but it’s much worse for me.

I’ve tried everything to fix it from my side from power cycling all my hardware, flat EQ, all in-game output formats and audio presets (default, night mode, etc…), tweaking PS5 tempest settings like disabling 3D audio.  I’ve tried reducing output volume on the PS5, master game volume, effects volume, headset volume to allow headroom, but as mentioned before- it still happens even when quiet or distant.  I suspect it’s clipping due to layer stacking without sufficient compression.  I’ve tried to EQ it out but it only results in an EQd distortion.  

I’m using a Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset so the PS5 is outputting USB audio (skips HDMI formatting and forces Linear PCM) to the base station, then the base station is broadcasting on 2.5ghz to the headset. I thought there may be bottlenecking somewhere here but my other wired Razor headset (3.5mm jack into the controller) does the exact same.

BOTTOM LINE: this started exactly when the winter offensive update with audio enhancements dropped so I know it’s an issue on BF6 side and not my side.  All other games sound perfect.

EDIT: Can DICE please get on this or at least tell us when they’ll look into it because it’s honestly unplayable. I can’t put up with this distortion for more than a game or two.  Literally going to just play something else if this isn’t addressed.