The first time an mpeg video clip is played from my site the audio has clicking on it as if it is "segmented", for want of a better word.
The second, and subsequent times it is played the sound is fine.

I also found, after emptying the cache, that if I stop the clip as soon as it starts the first time and then restart it the audio is fine too.

Why does this happen and is there anything I can do so that the audio sounds ok the first time the clip is played?

It's happening because the video is playing faster than either 1) your internet connection can download the video, or 2) the server can send the video...or both. That's why it works on the second round, or if you pause the video. It gives it time to download.

Ok, thank you.

I have an adsl connection and since I don't observe a similar phenomena when I look at clips on other sites I guess it is the server.

Nothing I can do then.