Crackling/distorted audio

This issue first started after creating my character and going into the rendered world space. The audio was breaking up, stuttering up and crackling, and the cutscene was stuttering along with it, only moving along with the audio. After it ended, the audio problem remained but the game was no longer slow with it. This audio issue seemed to improve when I lowered the graphics settings, but as the game went on it kept coming back, being the worst in areas with lots of ambient audio (such as crowds of people, battles, and rivers), and now even with the lowest settings it is still present and very obnoxious. It's to the point where I can't play the game any more and I will have to return it if there is no fix.

I have verified the game files, updated my drivers, manipulated the audio settings both in game and on my PC, disabling system sound, lowering to CD quality audio, and disabling all enhancements. I have searched in these forms, Reddit, Discord, Steam, YouTube and online articles and tried every suggested fix with no success. My computer meets all the minimum specifications and has never had any problem like this with any other graphically intense game, even at the highest settings.