I have registered just to add my piece of experience when reading this discussion — I have the same issue with QU-16 using HP laptop (and I have also created A&H support ticket, still pending, unresolved) and also I have flawlessly working Focusrite 18i20 and 2i2. Focusrite had very similar difficulties and they updated their drivers many times, but they managed to resolve USB transfers (18 channels out, 20 in over USB) completely. Year ago my Focusrite produced glitches (not so bad as QU 16 produces), now the streaming works as a charm. So, there definitely is a way how to cope with distortions, or at least how to mitigate them. The number of channels may play role, but, still, from my point of view, it cannot give reasons for general saying “A&H is OK because it adheres to USB standard and HP is not OK because is has only single controller”. Until A&H closes opened support tickets and explains the cause (hope they will do so) the issue’s root can be on both sides/at any place. And yes, it is a difficult issue.
