Popping Sound Coming From Speakers

I guess they're terminated imprperly or there should be somewhere loose ground connection. AQ RCAs are detachable so you can easily spot the case...

I suspect bad interconnect are at the root of the cause...

Seriously, have you pulled the connectors apart to see if you've got a lousy / broken solder joint or something obvious in there? I assume since you're asking here they're not new ICs or you would have just returned them.

You didn't loosen up a jack or two swapping them in/out, did you?

What are your old ICs and what other stuff do you have? Tube preamp???

Everyone who has ever owned an electric guitar knows exactly what it is - time for a new cord. In your case, it's another pair of AQ's (trade them in - you got a bad one).