Static-like digital "pops" on CDs - can be what?

Hi all -

I recently picked up an Integra DPS-10.5 (same as Onkyo DV-SP1000) here on the gon, and for the current prices (thank you Blu-Ray!) it's a very nice sounding unit in all formats.

But I've noticed this oddball behavior - subtle "pops" on CDs that sound almost like vinyl pops/clicks, that only show up on longer CDs towards the end of the disc. As far as I can tell so far, they only are audible over the analog outputs and not on SACDs but just Redbook CDs. Could that be a laser/tracking problem or something? It seems odd, in that case, that it wouldn't happen over the digital outputs as well.

Anyone have any thoughts on what might cause this? For the price I paid and the build and sound quality of the unit, I don't mind getting it repaired, but I'd like to have some clue what's going on.

Another quirk it has is that the digital and analog outputs are not perfectly synched - if I let the pre-pro do the D-A in my living room and send the analog outs to my office (zone 2), you can clearly hear that with the digital outs, every beat is slightly ahead. My previous player did not have this quirk. (Easy enough to workaround, but strange.)