On paper, the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG looks tailor-made for offices, retail kiosks, and conference rooms. It adds business-friendly touches like a dedicated Copilot key, a corded power button for easy remote mounting, a digital microphone, and a built-in monaural speaker so you can deploy it without extra peripherals. In practice, though, that integrated speaker is simply too quiet for many real-world environments.
Measured loudness tops out at about 70 dB(A). That’s noticeably below several competing mini PCs: roughly 78 dB(A) on the Beelink SER9 Pro, 81 dB(A) on the Bosgame M2, and 76 dB(A) on the HP Z2 Mini. A difference of just a few decibels may look small on a spec sheet, but it’s very audible—especially when you’re trying to fill a small to medium conference room or cut through the ambient noise of a sales floor. For context, many midrange and premium laptops can reach around 80 dB(A).
Beyond sheer volume, the sound profile is serviceable for voice but not ideal for media. Bass is reduced compared to typical laptop or mini PC speakers, mids are slightly elevated, and highs are reasonably balanced. That tuning helps speech intelligibility at close range, but the limited headroom makes announcements, presentations, and group calls feel constricted unless the room is very quiet.
It’s still a step forward from the previous Cubi 1M, which offered no speakers whatsoever. If this line continues, a third-generation model with a larger driver and a bit more amplifier power could hit the sweet spot for business users who want fewer external accessories on the desk or behind a display.
Who should buy it
– Good fit if you’re using headsets, conference speakerphones, or external soundbars anyway.
– Fine for quiet offices where the PC sits close to the listener and audio is mostly notifications or brief voice prompts.
– Not ideal if you need a mini PC that can reliably project audio across huddle rooms, classrooms, or busy retail spaces without add-ons.
Quick recommendations for better audio
– Add a compact USB or Bluetooth speaker; even small soundbars can push past 80 dB(A) with fuller sound.
– If clarity is the priority, a USB conference speakerphone provides better pickup and output for calls.
– Check OS audio settings for enhancements and ensure volume limiters aren’t enabled.
Bottom line
The MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG nails several business conveniences, but its integrated speaker lacks the volume to match its intended use cases. Consider it a solid mini PC that still benefits from an external audio solution—at least until MSI gives this compact machine the louder, larger speaker it deserves.
