Windows 10: Crackling/bad audio while playing minecraft

Not really sure why this is happening...

:)

 

Audio Crackling

Recently, I've noticed that the audio with my speakers and headphones is "crackling". It doesn't seem to matter what the volume is set at, nor what program I'm running. If I'm playing a game, the audio crackles. If I'm listening to music, the audio crackles.
I've tried downloading/updating my audio drivers, but nothing seems to help.

 

Crackling audio. Skyrim + other games

USB headphones have never been kind to me. They always hiss, pop and crackle. The fact that you can hear it when no audio is being played suggests it's a power /connection issue.

Do you have any 3.5mm or RCA based headphones you can try?

 

Crackling audio. Skyrim + other games

Ok so I've just run The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and right on the menu screen straight off the bat, my audio is crackling. I loaded up a game and played and the crackling stops, I then open the menu and the crackling comes back, then close it and it stops.

Other games this happens in are:
LOTR: War of the Ring (very old, but I've played it on Win7 before without issue)
Starcraft 2
And I think WoW (can't remember, haven't played since August last year)

The crackling is very loud and very annoying. I tried to FRAPS the problem but the audio came up clean in the recording.

What do?

Other games I play without any issues at all:
Eve Online
COD4
Mount & Blade
CS:GO
LoL
Minecraft
Diablo 3
PCSX2 (PS2 emulator)
Battlefield 2