No, but the sound popping is a core issue and pretty much all sounds have this issue. Some are more noticeable than others, some worse, some less... (This is an issue since TSW2 btw)
Service "EZK (53383) Weißig to Reisa Rbf - Part 2" in the Two Nine Four chapter in Journey Mode is still SPADing at service start on the Epic Games version. DW
Same issue here on PlayStation 5 for both EZK 53383 and EZK 53387, both result in AI Spads and cannot finish the journey mode, been like this since launch
Just noticed something while shunting at Stuttgart yesterday, not sure why I didn't notice it earlier... When the engine is running roughly between 1000 and 1100 rpm, the engine sound gets very quiet. Go above or below that rpm, and the sound returns to its normal volume. Only noticeable inside the cab, on the outside it sounds fine. Happens when travelling in either direction.
Can confirm, I've encountered this "hole" in the audio as well. It occurred for me first on a split shunting service after staying in the cab in free roam and take over the next part of the service, so I thought it maybe had something to do with that. Did you encounter it in such a situation as well or on the first service you start as well? I did a little road switching job on Ludwigsbahn yesterday and didn't encounter that "hole". The train did weigh 1160 tons though and I had to really apply power very fast to get it moving, but I didn't encounter it on the short way to the consist either. It may have been a different thing if I shunted at Mannheim Rbf for an hour and then did a short service back to back, who knows. Sadly we don't even have Mannheim Rbf in the game, which is the 294's natural habitat, so to speak. Then again, I'm not even sure if a hump yard is technically doable in TSW, still a missed opportunity.
I encountered it during the service itself. Tested it by going back and forth in the yard for a while, accidentally ran a red light and had to start all over Afterwards I double-checked by trying it in Free Roam, same result... so it seems to be quite reproducible.
