First post here, I apologize I'm PROBABLY only moderately computer literate, but would be thrilled if someone here has an explanation or solution to this problem.

Starting a few months ago, I've started hearing (regularly, but not always) quiet popping/static from my PC speakers when sound is playing (Spotify, YouTube, games, whatever). Sometimes when I pause all sound sources, then hit play again, the speakers won't play any sound at all, or they will produce very loud static, like an old CRT television on a dead channel. With the lack of sound/loud static, I can left click the sound settings icon on my taskbar ("Speakers (Creative SB X-Fi)" is my default), and select my other playback device ("VG248 (NVIDIA High DEFINITION Audio)"), leave it there for a few seconds, switch back to Speakers, and the problem is fixed (minus the regular-but-not-always quiet background popping/static when sound is playing). If I switch back to Speakers too quickly, however, I get more of the silence or incredibly loud, screeching static, switch to the other playback device once more, and wait longer before switching back again. I have tried searching lots of hardware troubleshooting forums and, THUS far, have not found anything that works (most SITES recommended going to Sound Devices via the Control Panel, selecting a playback device, going to Properties > Advanced, and changing the Default Format, i.e., bits/hertz, but this did not help me, unless just a specific one of the zillion settings would fix it and I didn't happen to select it in my trials).

Here are my device specifications (if more is needed, I apologize, let me know - I've also had a hard time finding a way to get more complete system specs in a format that I can copy and paste).

Processor: Intel Core i7 CPU 860 2.80 GHz 2.80 GHz Installed RAM: 16.0 GB System Type: 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Windows specifications Edition: Windows 10 Home
Version: 1909
OS build: 18363.719

Sound devices Card: Creative SB X-Fi
Speakers: Bose Companion 20

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

Thank you kindly in advance for any assistance you can offer!