Is Apple saying it is a hardware issue? Looking through this thread, the general suggestion seems to be that it is likely a software issue. But Apple do seem to be sending out a lot of returns. Does anyone have any direct information from Apple on whether it's software or hardware, or does anyone have specialised knowledge on this?
Personally, I have the crackling, but only experience it on Boot Camp after running Civilization VI for about a half hour. I did not test extensively on Mac OS though. I'm planning on waiting for Mojave and new Boot Camp drivers or new firmware to see if this is fixed by software. If it isn't, I will return it for a replacement under Australian consumer law.