For years, the soundtrack of a group fitness class has followed a familiar formula. Big beat, big energy, big volume. Walk into many studios and the music does not just fill the room, it almost takes over it.
But a new study suggests that blasting music may not be the secret ingredient behind a stronger workout. Researchers found that lowering the volume in group fitness classes did not meaningfully reduce how hard people felt they were exercising, while it may help protect hearing over time.
What the study found
The research was led by specialists at the University of Southern California and focused on 189 people who attended group weight-training classes at a fitness studio in Los Angeles. Participants completed 239 surveys after one-hour classes that used music throughout the workout.
In the louder classes, the average sound level was 91.4 dBA. In the quieter classes, it dropped to 88.5 dBA, a reduction that was noticeable but not dramatic.
After each session, participants rated their perceived effort using the Borg CR-10 scale, a common tool used to measure how intense exercise feels. The researchers found that the quieter classes were not inferior to the louder ones when it came to perceived workout intensity.
Loud does not mean harder
Here is the surprising part. Turning the music down did not make people feel as if they had coasted through class.
The difference in perceived exertion between louder and quieter sessions was small, about 0.66 points on the Borg scale. The study authors wrote that the lower volume “did not lead to meaningful reductions in perceived exertion.”
That matters because many gym-goers associate loud music with effort. It feels intense. It feels like the room is pushing you. But according to this study, the body may not need that extra noise to keep moving.
Why hearing experts are paying attention
The concern is not that music is bad for workouts. The concern is that repeated exposure to high sound levels can slowly damage hearing, especially when people attend classes several times a week.
The study noted that the risk of noise-induced hearing loss increases with prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 dBA. NIOSH recommends 85 dBA over an eight-hour shift as an occupational exposure limit, with safer listening time dropping as volume rises.
In practical terms, that means a loud studio is not just a vibe. It is also a place where your ears are doing work, even if you are focused on squats, lunges, and keeping up with the instructor.
The warning signs after class
One finding should make regular gym-goers pause. In the study, 28 participants, or 14.8 percent, reported that they had experienced ringing in their ears after class at least once. Only four participants, or 2.1 percent, said they consistently used hearing protection.
Ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears can be a sign of tinnitus after loud noise exposure. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says tinnitus may fade, but it can also continue over time.
Other warning signs can include muffled speech, trouble following conversations in noisy places, and needing people to repeat themselves. If that happens after workouts, concerts, or other loud settings, it is worth taking seriously.
Music still helps workouts
So, should gyms ditch music altogether? Not at all.
Music can still make exercise feel more enjoyable and motivating. The JAMA study notes that music has been shown to support performance by improving mood, offering distraction, and increasing motivation or perceived power.
Anyone who has dragged themselves through a morning workout knows this in a very real way. A favorite song can make the first few minutes feel less miserable, and sometimes that is enough to keep going.
Tempo may matter more
The key may not be volume, but rhythm. In many workouts, especially cardio-based classes, tempo can help people sync their movement and maintain pace.
A song with a strong beat can make steps, pedals, or repetitions feel more automatic. That does not mean every class needs to sound like a nightclub.
Personal preference also matters. If the music is enjoyable, people may feel more engaged, but the study suggests there may be a point where adding more volume brings little benefit and more risk.
What gym-goers can do
There are simple steps people can take without giving up the group-class experience. Standing farther from speakers can reduce direct exposure, especially in small studios where sound can bounce off walls.
Regular attendees may also consider high-fidelity earplugs, which lower volume without making music sound completely muffled. It may feel awkward at first, but so did bringing a giant water bottle everywhere, and now nobody thinks twice.
Most of all, pay attention to how your ears feel after class. If you leave with ringing, pressure, or muffled hearing, your body may be giving you a signal that the workout was loud enough.
What gyms should keep in mind
For fitness studios, the takeaway is fairly practical. Lowering music volume by a few decibels may protect hearing while preserving the energy people expect from a class.
The study was not perfect. It took place at one Los Angeles studio, classes were not randomized, and perceived exertion was self-reported rather than measured through heart rate or oxygen use. Still, the findings point to a simple idea.
A great workout does not have to leave your ears ringing.
The study was published on JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery.
