Oh my gosh, THANK YOU!!!!  I bought a new Dell laptop in March and have had this same problem since DAY ONE.  It's been 6 months and I finally decided to search for a solution.  Your solution worked.  I removed Smartbytes and Modified the power management settings for the 'RealTek Audio' via Windows registry.  I didn't have to update the BIOS or Realtek drivers because mine were already updated.

THANK YOU again for this solution.

Barbara

Thank You!!!!!

I've been using REduce Audio Latency (running automatically on login) to get rid of the popping. The only problem was that it kept the audio stream active and prevented the computer from automatically sleeping. This method doesn't, and the sound events continue to be on cue! I really wish Microsoft and/or Realtek would address this so that it doesn't have to be performed manually. (I assume that driver re-installation/updating or a major Windows 10 update would reset these values back to default).

I guess we will find out when the next Microsoft updates come out or Dell pushes a Realtek driver update.  At least now we know how to fix it.  It's just a small registry hack. I'm very much enjoying the sound on my computer now without the popping at the start of a sound/song and the popping at the end of a sound/song.

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU.

YOU R A COMPLETE LEGEND

  SO MUCH FRUSTRATION, SO SIMPLE,, NO MORE POPPING but also NO MORE hissing as well and NO MORE STRESSING out with this stupid problem

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU.

Cheers

Karen 

ps mine was in 0001 - and easy to find thanks for the great instructions - 

@Barbloki​ hi pal, can you give the clue on where and what to edit on the registry, thanks.