Quick answer: When clients say the music is too loud, the real problem is often echo. In a hard room, music bounces around and piles up, so it sounds harsh and blurs the instructor voice. Acoustic panels soak up the bounce, so the same music sounds fuller and cleaner at a slightly lower volume. A typical studio room needs 15 to 25 panels, about S$2,775 to S$4,625 installed.

Key takeaways

  • Echo makes music sound harsher and louder.
  • Panels let music stay full at lower volume.
  • Clients hear the instructor over the beat.

Why does class music feel so harsh?

In a bare studio, sound from the speakers hits mirrors, walls and the floor and comes back. The bounced sound mixes with the new sound. Highs get sharp and bass gets muddy. It feels louder than it is.

Why not just turn it down?

You can, but in an echoey room the music then sounds thin and flat. Instructors turn it back up to keep the energy. The cycle repeats every class. Treating the room breaks that cycle. See why rooms get noisy for the same effect in restaurants.

Not sure what your room needs? Send us a photo on WhatsApp or request a free quote. We'll tell you how many panels, where they go and the price. See our gym and studio acoustic panels and recent projects.

Why class music feels too loud infographic

What do panels change?

Panels soak up the bounce, so you mostly hear the speakers, not the room. Music sounds tighter and clearer. The instructor voice cuts through without shouting. You can often run the music a little lower and it still feels full. See whether panels really work.

Fixing loud class music diagram

Where should panels go?

Opposite the speakers first, then the back and side walls. In big rooms with hard ceilings, add ceiling panels. Keep panels clear of mirrors and equipment. See where to place panels first.

Will neighbours hear less?

Not on their own. Panels cut echo inside the room, but they do not block sound or bass passing through walls and floors. If neighbours complain, you need building work such as seals, solid doors or an isolated floor. Read panels and neighbour noise.

What does it cost?

A studio room usually needs 15 to 25 panels. At S$185 per panel installed, that is about S$2,775 to S$4,625. The exact count is confirmed from photos of your room, and quotes from photos are free. See acoustic panel prices.

Should I change speakers?

Try treating the room first. Good speakers in an echoey room still sound harsh, because the room bounces their sound back. Once panels are up, you can judge the speakers fairly.

What about spin and HIIT?

Same idea, just louder. Spin and HIIT rooms often run loud music and a headset mic at once, so echo builds fast. Panels opposite the speakers and on the ceiling help most. Our guide to spin and HIIT studios covers loud classes in more detail.

What we see on real jobs

Treat the room before you touch the volume knob. Echo, not loudness, is often what makes class music feel harsh.

Get a straight answer for your room

Send a photo or short video of your studio or gym floor on WhatsApp (+65 8930 1905), ideally during a class. We'll suggest where panels go, keep them clear of equipment and mirrors, and install outside class times.

WhatsApp us a photo · Request a free quote · See prices

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