diff --git a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.cpp b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.cpp
index 8800fddcf5..ba317d2828 100644
--- a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ static std::unique_ptr<SoundStream> CreateSoundStreamForBackend(std::string_view
   return {};
 }
 
-void InitSoundStream()
+void InitSoundStream(Core::System& system)
 {
   std::string backend = Config::Get(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_BACKEND);
   std::unique_ptr<SoundStream> sound_stream = CreateSoundStreamForBackend(backend);
@@ -65,32 +65,28 @@ void InitSoundStream()
     sound_stream->Init();
   }
 
-  Core::System::GetInstance().SetSoundStream(std::move(sound_stream));
+  system.SetSoundStream(std::move(sound_stream));
 }
 
-void PostInitSoundStream()
+void PostInitSoundStream(Core::System& system)
 {
-  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
-
   // This needs to be called after AudioInterface::Init and SerialInterface::Init (for GBA devices)
   // where input sample rates are set
-  UpdateSoundStream();
-  SetSoundStreamRunning(true);
+  UpdateSoundStream(system);
+  SetSoundStreamRunning(system, true);
 
   if (Config::Get(Config::MAIN_DUMP_AUDIO) && !system.IsAudioDumpStarted())
-    StartAudioDump();
+    StartAudioDump(system);
 }
 
-void ShutdownSoundStream()
+void ShutdownSoundStream(Core::System& system)
 {
-  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
-
   INFO_LOG_FMT(AUDIO, "Shutting down sound stream");
 
   if (Config::Get(Config::MAIN_DUMP_AUDIO) && system.IsAudioDumpStarted())
-    StopAudioDump();
+    StopAudioDump(system);
 
-  SetSoundStreamRunning(false);
+  SetSoundStreamRunning(system, false);
   system.SetSoundStream(nullptr);
 
   INFO_LOG_FMT(AUDIO, "Done shutting down sound stream");
@@ -161,9 +157,8 @@ bool SupportsVolumeChanges(std::string_view backend)
   return backend == BACKEND_CUBEB || backend == BACKEND_OPENAL || backend == BACKEND_WASAPI;
 }
 
-void UpdateSoundStream()
+void UpdateSoundStream(Core::System& system)
 {
-  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
   SoundStream* sound_stream = system.GetSoundStream();
 
   if (sound_stream)
@@ -173,9 +168,8 @@ void UpdateSoundStream()
   }
 }
 
-void SetSoundStreamRunning(bool running)
+void SetSoundStreamRunning(Core::System& system, bool running)
 {
-  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
   SoundStream* sound_stream = system.GetSoundStream();
 
   if (!sound_stream)
@@ -193,18 +187,17 @@ void SetSoundStreamRunning(bool running)
     ERROR_LOG_FMT(AUDIO, "Error stopping stream.");
 }
 
-void SendAIBuffer(const short* samples, unsigned int num_samples)
+void SendAIBuffer(Core::System& system, const short* samples, unsigned int num_samples)
 {
-  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
   SoundStream* sound_stream = system.GetSoundStream();
 
   if (!sound_stream)
     return;
 
   if (Config::Get(Config::MAIN_DUMP_AUDIO) && !system.IsAudioDumpStarted())
-    StartAudioDump();
+    StartAudioDump(system);
   else if (!Config::Get(Config::MAIN_DUMP_AUDIO) && system.IsAudioDumpStarted())
-    StopAudioDump();
+    StopAudioDump(system);
 
   Mixer* mixer = sound_stream->GetMixer();
 
@@ -214,9 +207,8 @@ void SendAIBuffer(const short* samples, unsigned int num_samples)
   }
 }
 
-void StartAudioDump()
+void StartAudioDump(Core::System& system)
 {
-  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
   SoundStream* sound_stream = system.GetSoundStream();
 
   std::time_t start_time = std::time(nullptr);
@@ -235,9 +227,8 @@ void StartAudioDump()
   system.SetAudioDumpStarted(true);
 }
 
-void StopAudioDump()
+void StopAudioDump(Core::System& system)
 {
-  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
   SoundStream* sound_stream = system.GetSoundStream();
 
   if (!sound_stream)
@@ -247,7 +238,7 @@ void StopAudioDump()
   system.SetAudioDumpStarted(false);
 }
 
-void IncreaseVolume(unsigned short offset)
+void IncreaseVolume(Core::System& system, unsigned short offset)
 {
   Config::SetBaseOrCurrent(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_MUTED, false);
   int currentVolume = Config::Get(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_VOLUME);
@@ -255,10 +246,10 @@ void IncreaseVolume(unsigned short offset)
   if (currentVolume > AUDIO_VOLUME_MAX)
     currentVolume = AUDIO_VOLUME_MAX;
   Config::SetBaseOrCurrent(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_VOLUME, currentVolume);
-  UpdateSoundStream();
+  UpdateSoundStream(system);
 }
 
-void DecreaseVolume(unsigned short offset)
+void DecreaseVolume(Core::System& system, unsigned short offset)
 {
   Config::SetBaseOrCurrent(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_MUTED, false);
   int currentVolume = Config::Get(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_VOLUME);
@@ -266,13 +257,13 @@ void DecreaseVolume(unsigned short offset)
   if (currentVolume < AUDIO_VOLUME_MIN)
     currentVolume = AUDIO_VOLUME_MIN;
   Config::SetBaseOrCurrent(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_VOLUME, currentVolume);
-  UpdateSoundStream();
+  UpdateSoundStream(system);
 }
 
-void ToggleMuteVolume()
+void ToggleMuteVolume(Core::System& system)
 {
   bool isMuted = Config::Get(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_MUTED);
   Config::SetBaseOrCurrent(Config::MAIN_AUDIO_MUTED, !isMuted);
-  UpdateSoundStream();
+  UpdateSoundStream(system);
 }
 }  // namespace AudioCommon
diff --git a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.h b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.h
index 84e3cd0a62..f883f32f85 100644
--- a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.h
+++ b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AudioCommon.h
@@ -13,23 +13,28 @@
 
 class Mixer;
 
+namespace Core
+{
+class System;
+}
+
 namespace AudioCommon
 {
-void InitSoundStream();
-void PostInitSoundStream();
-void ShutdownSoundStream();
+void InitSoundStream(Core::System& system);
+void PostInitSoundStream(Core::System& system);
+void ShutdownSoundStream(Core::System& system);
 std::string GetDefaultSoundBackend();
 std::vector<std::string> GetSoundBackends();
 DPL2Quality GetDefaultDPL2Quality();
 bool SupportsDPL2Decoder(std::string_view backend);
 bool SupportsLatencyControl(std::string_view backend);
 bool SupportsVolumeChanges(std::string_view backend);
-void UpdateSoundStream();
-void SetSoundStreamRunning(bool running);
-void SendAIBuffer(const short* samples, unsigned int num_samples);
-void StartAudioDump();
-void StopAudioDump();
-void IncreaseVolume(unsigned short offset);
-void DecreaseVolume(unsigned short offset);
-void ToggleMuteVolume();
+void UpdateSoundStream(Core::System& system);
+void SetSoundStreamRunning(Core::System& system, bool running);
+void SendAIBuffer(Core::System& system, const short* samples, unsigned int num_samples);
+void StartAudioDump(Core::System& system);
+void StopAudioDump(Core::System& system);
+void IncreaseVolume(Core::System& system, unsigned short offset);
+void DecreaseVolume(Core::System& system, unsigned short offset);
+void ToggleMuteVolume(Core::System& system);
 }  // namespace AudioCommon
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
index 8a02534c57..097432cc94 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ static void FifoPlayerThread(const std::optional<std::string>& savestate_path,
 // See the BootManager.cpp file description for a complete call schedule.
 static void EmuThread(std::unique_ptr<BootParameters> boot, WindowSystemInfo wsi)
 {
-  const Core::System& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
+  Core::System& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
   const SConfig& core_parameter = SConfig::GetInstance();
   CallOnStateChangedCallbacks(State::Starting);
   Common::ScopeGuard flag_guard{[] {
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ static void EmuThread(std::unique_ptr<BootParameters> boot, WindowSystemInfo wsi
   Movie::Init(*boot);
   Common::ScopeGuard movie_guard{&Movie::Shutdown};
 
-  AudioCommon::InitSoundStream();
-  Common::ScopeGuard audio_guard{&AudioCommon::ShutdownSoundStream};
+  AudioCommon::InitSoundStream(system);
+  Common::ScopeGuard audio_guard([&system] { AudioCommon::ShutdownSoundStream(system); });
 
   HW::Init(NetPlay::IsNetPlayRunning() ? &(boot_session_data.GetNetplaySettings()->sram) : nullptr);
 
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ static void EmuThread(std::unique_ptr<BootParameters> boot, WindowSystemInfo wsi
   // it's now ok to initialize any custom textures
   HiresTexture::Update();
 
-  AudioCommon::PostInitSoundStream();
+  AudioCommon::PostInitSoundStream(system);
 
   // The hardware is initialized.
   s_hardware_initialized = true;
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/HW/CPU.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/HW/CPU.cpp
index 1325cce402..4345954eac 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/HW/CPU.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/HW/CPU.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "Core/Host.h"
 #include "Core/PowerPC/GDBStub.h"
 #include "Core/PowerPC/PowerPC.h"
+#include "Core/System.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/Fifo.h"
 
 namespace CPU
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ static void RunAdjacentSystems(bool running)
   Fifo::EmulatorState(running);
   // Core is responsible for shutting down the sound stream.
   if (s_state != State::PowerDown)
-    AudioCommon::SetSoundStreamRunning(running);
+    AudioCommon::SetSoundStreamRunning(Core::System::GetInstance(), running);
 }
 
 void Stop()
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/HW/DSP.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/HW/DSP.cpp
index 5ebe4a6680..414bf801c0 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/HW/DSP.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/HW/DSP.cpp
@@ -414,7 +414,8 @@ void RegisterMMIO(MMIO::Mapping* mmio, u32 base)
   mmio->Register(
       base | AUDIO_DMA_CONTROL_LEN, MMIO::DirectRead<u16>(&state.audio_dma.AudioDMAControl.Hex),
       MMIO::ComplexWrite<u16>([](u32, u16 val) {
-        auto& state = Core::System::GetInstance().GetDSPState().GetData();
+        auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
+        auto& state = system.GetDSPState().GetData();
         bool already_enabled = state.audio_dma.AudioDMAControl.Enable;
         state.audio_dma.AudioDMAControl.Hex = val;
 
@@ -512,7 +513,8 @@ void UpdateDSPSlice(int cycles)
 // This happens at 4 khz, since 32 bytes at 4khz = 4 bytes at 32 khz (16bit stereo pcm)
 void UpdateAudioDMA()
 {
-  auto& state = Core::System::GetInstance().GetDSPState().GetData();
+  auto& system = Core::System::GetInstance();
+  auto& state = system.GetDSPState().GetData();
 
   static short zero_samples[8 * 2] = {0};
   if (state.audio_dma.AudioDMAControl.Enable)
@@ -521,7 +523,7 @@ void UpdateAudioDMA()
     // external audio fifo in the emulator, to be mixed with the disc
     // streaming output.
     void* address = Memory::GetPointer(state.audio_dma.current_source_address);
-    AudioCommon::SendAIBuffer(reinterpret_cast<short*>(address), 8);
+    AudioCommon::SendAIBuffer(system, reinterpret_cast<short*>(address), 8);
 
     if (state.audio_dma.remaining_blocks_count != 0)
     {
@@ -539,7 +541,7 @@ void UpdateAudioDMA()
   }
   else
   {
-    AudioCommon::SendAIBuffer(&zero_samples[0], 8);
+    AudioCommon::SendAIBuffer(system, &zero_samples[0], 8);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinQt/HotkeyScheduler.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinQt/HotkeyScheduler.cpp
index f00ddd6e19..0b80d746a7 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinQt/HotkeyScheduler.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinQt/HotkeyScheduler.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "Core/IOS/USB/Bluetooth/BTBase.h"
 #include "Core/IOS/USB/Bluetooth/BTReal.h"
 #include "Core/State.h"
+#include "Core/System.h"
 #include "Core/WiiUtils.h"
 
 #ifdef HAS_LIBMGBA
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ void HotkeyScheduler::Run()
 
       if (IsHotkey(HK_VOLUME_TOGGLE_MUTE))
       {
-        AudioCommon::ToggleMuteVolume();
+        AudioCommon::ToggleMuteVolume(Core::System::GetInstance());
         ShowVolume();
       }
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings.cpp
index a6580acbaa..26e108e80a 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "Core/IOS/IOS.h"
 #include "Core/NetPlayClient.h"
 #include "Core/NetPlayServer.h"
+#include "Core/System.h"
 
 #include "DolphinQt/Host.h"
 #include "DolphinQt/QtUtils/QueueOnObject.h"
@@ -384,13 +385,13 @@ void Settings::SetVolume(int volume)
 
 void Settings::IncreaseVolume(int volume)
 {
-  AudioCommon::IncreaseVolume(volume);
+  AudioCommon::IncreaseVolume(Core::System::GetInstance(), volume);
   emit VolumeChanged(GetVolume());
 }
 
 void Settings::DecreaseVolume(int volume)
 {
-  AudioCommon::DecreaseVolume(volume);
+  AudioCommon::DecreaseVolume(Core::System::GetInstance(), volume);
   emit VolumeChanged(GetVolume());
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings/AudioPane.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings/AudioPane.cpp
index 1da51c1da5..c79e7f58bf 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings/AudioPane.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinQt/Settings/AudioPane.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 #include "Core/Config/MainSettings.h"
 #include "Core/Core.h"
+#include "Core/System.h"
 
 #include "DolphinQt/Config/SettingsWindow.h"
 #include "DolphinQt/Settings.h"
@@ -328,7 +329,7 @@ void AudioPane::SaveSettings()
   Config::SetBaseOrCurrent(Config::MAIN_WASAPI_DEVICE, device);
 #endif
 
-  AudioCommon::UpdateSoundStream();
+  AudioCommon::UpdateSoundStream(Core::System::GetInstance());
 }
 
 void AudioPane::OnDspChanged()