Agreed. Just the other day on the Upper West Side a man was beat up for OP’s exact scenario, asking someone to turn down their music. It’s not right, but it’s not worth it to test just how crazy a random person is, especially since they are already clearly very comfortable violating social norms.

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-loud-music-subway-beatdown-nypd-20221028-2rhrmho64bephpgqzs23rwhcry-story.html