** SOLVED ** macOS Tahoe 26.6 / 26.6.1 - very slow plugin loading plus pops and crackles

Per many sources, that is not true – macOS Tahoe can be further optimized for real-time audio by stripping away background resource hogs, disabling wireless adapters, and managing system services that interrupt low-latency audio buffers.

An example: https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/macos-tahoe-26-audio-optimization-guide/