Itunes audio distortion Windows 10

The problem occurs while I am playing music. Interestingly enough, I have noticed the problem goes away while the "playback devices" window is open (right click speaker icon on task bar > Playback devices).

The sound is more of a static chop that occurs every 5-10 seconds or so. I have been using A Team by Ed Sheeran to listen for the sound, it usually occurs in the low audio range.

I am running windows 10 on a gaming rig that I built a year ago.

I have tried reinstalling windows (for a different reason than this one)

- reinstalling itunes

- disabling the sound enhancer in itunes

- using different speakers

- using different aux/ audio port

- playing the same song on youtube (no distortion)

- i am on the most recent version of itunes