How do I fix RealTek Audio failures and NaNs in volume on Mac Studio?

On my Mac Studio, I keep having problems with my RealTek Audio. I have it set to drive a USB-c-to-optical converter. It keeps suddenly failing. I am convinced that the chip is bad. It is on the Motherboard. Apple genius bar reinstalled OS and it worked again for a while (even with Time Machine). But it took a week to redo my complicated system! Now it is dead again. As shown above, Audi Midi shows NaNs for the volume, which is surely wrong?

After the most recent failure of the audio, it burped static every second or so.

Help please.