Troubleshooting Audio Issues on the Lenovo Legion 5: A Gamer’s Dilemma

As an audio technician and avid gamer, I was thrilled to get my hands on the Lenovo Legion 5, equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7, RTX 3060, and a 512 GB SSD. However, my excitement quickly turned to frustration after encountering a perplexing audio issue that I could not resolve.

The Problem

Initially, I noticed the trouble right away when I connected my headphones via the 3.5mm jack on the left side of the laptop. Whether streaming music on Spotify or watching videos on YouTube, I was met with a bothersome crackling and static sound. This interference persisted for about 5-10 seconds after stopping any audio. Even upon starting up the laptop, if Discord automatically opened, the static would reappear. The intensity of the interference was significant—about a third of my music volume—making it incredibly distracting while gaming or working.

Despite numerous troubleshooting efforts—disabling audio enhancements, updating the BIOS, and even trying with the charger unplugged—I was unable to eliminate the static noise. Interestingly, my Bluetooth headphones worked without issue, but their sound quality didn’t meet my standards, as I typically use high-quality Beyer DT770s for my audio needs.

To test further, I decided to use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for my headphones. This connection yielded flawless audio, confirming that the root of the issue lay within the laptop’s 3.5mm audio port itself.

Seeking Solutions

Frustrated, I returned the initial laptop, and Currys sent me a replacement. However, I was dismayed to find that the same static issue persisted. The only difference was that the noise seemed to occur exclusively when the laptop was plugged in and the Wi-Fi router was operational. Switching off the router resolved the static, but obviously, this solution isn’t viable for regular use.

My partner has a different laptop that operates seamlessly, as does my work laptop, which (ironically) is also a Lenovo. This raises the question: Why is my new gaming laptop exhibiting this troublesome behavior?

Is It a Defect?

It’s hard to believe that a machine like the Lenovo Legion 5 should have such audio interference issues, especially with its premium specifications. Should I consider returning this unit as well and perhaps wait to save for another gaming laptop model?

Conclusion

If anyone in the gaming or