Is it normal for iClear 16 to crackle?

[Osaton]

My iClear 16 tends to emit a crackling noise, similar to the sound of a gum bubble popping only more muffled, whenever I fire it for more than five seconds. I am vaping a 67.5% PG, 17.5% VG, 15% water mix. The crackling noise is unique to the iClear, as my Kanger T2, T3 and Octopus all perform silently on the same e-juice.
Is the crackling normal, as in everyone is having it? Is it due to wicking issues? Is all this crackling likely to damage the resistance wire?

Aside from that, I'd like to know what a genuine iClear looks like, because mine isn't performing as well as the numerous glowing reviews praising 'clear flavor' and 'strong TH' have led me to believe.
My iClear has the CE mark, the "do not throw away" symbol, "iClear 16" and "VW/VV" engraved on its skirt in clockwise order. Do yours look similar or do they differ in some way?

 

[bacc.vap]

All atomizers snap, crackle, and pop, it's normal, just the juice heating up a vaporising. I'm not familiar with the iclear, so i have no comment on that.

 

[Punkonjunk]

yeah, it's the sound of boiling. if you have a top coil tank or a tank you can clearly see the atomizer/wire on, give it a fire and watch: you'll see some boiling. I get that "crackle" when my atomizer is a little flooded, clears up with a hard pull for me.

 

[SeaTownLassy]

My iClear 16's crackle a bit on my VV/VW mods, but not as much on a regular eGo battery. Its a normal thing that happens when the juice is vaporized. Just be sure to tip and twirl periodically to keep wicks wet near the coil....but since you are vaping over 60% PG it shouldnt be a problem.