DDJ FLX4 problem with crackling sound

I recently purchased a new Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 controller, and I am experiencing continuous crackling sounds both through the speakers and headphones when using Rekordbox or Virtual DJ.

I have already tried several troubleshooting steps suggested in the community forums, including adjusting the audio latency/buffer size, updating drivers, and checking USB connections, but unfortunately the issue persists.

For reference, my previous controller (Numark) worked perfectly on the same setup without any such problems, so the issue seems to be related to the new DDJ-FLX4.

Could you please advise on how to resolve this or whether my unit might be defective?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.