Ubuntu – Fuzzy, Garbled audio with slight echo

I'm a relatively new Linux user but have spent considerable time trying to figure out a solution here.

I've been using Ubuntu 16.04 on a Lenovo ideapad Y410P for about a month and a half, and for the duration I've been having audio issues, despite to this day making sure I have installed all updates. I run a dual boot with Windows 10 and have no problems in Windows, so I'm pretty sure this is an Ubuntu or Linux issue.

The Problem:

Every once in a while– I see no correlation in the times it happens– my audio suddenly goes fuzzy & garbled with a slight echo. If I had to define it further I'd call it a swampy metallic sound. It is still possible to make out what sounds are playing, but they are very distorted. This problem sometimes will stop by itself– I see no correlation in the times it stops– or I can restart my computer.

The problem will exist both through the laptop speakers, and through any headphones I plug in.

The problem will exist across programs, including, but not limited to, Firefox and the 'Test' function in the System Settings' Sound tab.

Most of the time my audio is fine, I can go entire days without problems. But then I can spend hours suffering distorted audio.

Hope you can help. Thanks.