Why do I have so many audio drivers - confusing.

Since I upgraded to windows 10, Pro, version 1909, I have been having audio issues. I tried several things and nothing helps. I took a look at my Device Manager and expanded my Sound, video, and game controller menu and I have the following drivers listed.

Realtek High Definition Audio
NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)
NVIDIA High Definition Audio
Intel(R) Display Audio

I have NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB video card and every time I do an update, I do a clean install (erases all drivers) and does a fresh install. Since I'm not sure what I should or should not install I allow NVIDIA to install what it needs. Maybe that's the issue, I don't know. I'm not sure I understand why NVIDIA installs audio drivers but it does.

Never had this problem with Windows 7.

Anyways, can anyone explain why I have so many audio drivers. Is this normal. Does it cause issues.

Thanks

Move INFO using speccy in case it helps

Audio
Sound Cards
Realtek High Definition Audio
NVIDIA High Definition Audio
NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)
Intel Display Audio
USB Audio Device
Playback Device
Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Recording Devices
Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)

Thanks

HDMI cable carries both video and audio signals.

The audio problem I'm having is cracking noise. . From everything I read this seems to be a common windows 10 problem. I tried all solutions recommended but nothing works.

So my quest is two fold:

1. Fixing the windows 10 issue for cracking.

2. For learning purposes I'm trying to understand why I have so many audio drivers (see my first post above). Maybe I'm suppose to have that many drivers....but it doesn't make sense to me why I do. Seem like one audio driver would be all I need.

Most graphics cards or onboard graphics will have audio drivers because they are capable of outputting audio - either from a Display Port or HDMI. You appear to have both a NVIDIA card & onboard Intel graphics active. Realtek will almost certainly be the main onboard sound. The info from Speccy would suggest that you also have a USB audio device present - maybe a headset or USB speakers.

It is entirely normal to have several audio devices listed in Device Manager (including the webcam with microphone on mine) & each will generally have it's own drivers - this does not generally cause problems.

Thanks everyone for their input.

Per coolmistry request "Can you please show us your Device Manager for 'Audio inputs and outputs' and 'Sound, video and game controllers?"

In The device manager I expanded the Audio inputs and outputs and the following was listed:

Speakers (Realtek-High Definition Audio)
Stero Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio

I also expanded in the Device Manager Sound, video, and game controller menu and I have the following drivers listed.

Realtek High Definition Audio
NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)
NVIDIA High Definition Audio
Intel(R) Display Audio

Totally normal regarding the drivers. Several people have explained to you the reasons. As for the cracking sound, more info is needed. When does it happen? Games, players, websites, speakers, headphones????

There is nothing wrong with all those drivers. That has been explained to you.
I have more on a standard mid range Laptop.

I don't get any crackling, at least not due to drivers.
The problem has been with the actual Headsets/Headphones and cables. Intermittent connections developed in multiple Brands over the years often one of the channels would go crackly and eventually fail completely.
This was down to bad connections inside the Headsets, poor soldering, thin cheap connecting wires, cheap creaky plastic disintegrating, bad electrical design, and so forth.

I first encountered these problems over 40 years ago with Headphones and cables.

Did you change the sample rate to something like 192000 Hz?