Troubleshooting Audio Issues on the Lenovo Legion 5: A Frustrating Experience

As an avid gamer and audio technician, I recently encountered a perplexing audio issue with my new Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop. This machine, powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and equipped with an RTX 3060 graphics card, seemed like a dream come true when I first unboxed it. However, my excitement quickly turned to frustration.

The Problem: A Disturbing Static Sound

After setting up my laptop, I plugged in my headphones using the 3.5mm jack located on the left side. The moment I cranked up Spotify or hit play on a YouTube video, I was greeted with a persistent crackling and static noise. Even stopping the audio didn’t alleviate the issue; the interference lingered for another 5-10 seconds. This annoying sound was almost as loud as my music, making it incredibly hard to concentrate.

The static even made an appearance during startup, particularly when Discord automatically launched. It became clear that there was an underlying issue with the soundcard whenever it was in use. Despite trying a multitude of solutions—disabling audio enhancements, updating the BIOS, and unplugging the charger—the problem remained unresolved.

Temporary Workarounds

While I found that Bluetooth headphones didn’t pick up any static, the audio quality was subpar, leaving me longing for the superior sound of my Beyer DT770s, which I rely on for professional work. I also experimented with a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, and to my relief, there was no static with this arrangement. This led me to suspect that the 3.5mm headphone jack itself might be the root of the problem.

Swapping Hardware, Same Issue

After returning the first laptop, I received a replacement unit from Currys, yet, to my dismay, the same audio issue persisted. The only noticeable difference was that the static noise only occurred when the laptop was plugged in and the WiFi router was active. Interestingly, turning off the router eliminated the static entirely—but that’s not a feasible long-term solution for someone who relies on internet connectivity.

My partner’s laptop, as well as my work laptop (another Lenovo), didn’t exhibit these issues, which further heightened my confusion. Is this an inherent design flaw, or did I just happen to receive two malfunctioning units?

Seeking Solutions

Given my options, I find myself at a crossroads