http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=28856
--- Comment #11 from cobaltjacket@gmail.com 2011-11-28 20:44:16 CST --- So, I tested again running Win7 mode--still crackling. It might be less pronounced (i.e., the crackling may occur less frequently) or it could be the same and I am just imagining a difference. I can post a log in win7 mode if it would be helpful to someone.
Though it is almost certainly unrelated--I am running in winxp mode because of the crash on exit in win7 mode (http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22097).