Weak MSI Cubi NUC 2MG speakers could use an upgrade
As a business-oriented NUC, the MSI Cubi 2MG integrates some potentially useful features for retail or business environments including a dedicated Co-Pilot button, a corded Power button, digital microphone, and a monaural speaker. We don't expect the integrated speaker to produce deep bass levels for amazing media playback, of course, but its low maximum volume is certainly disappointing.
As shown in our review of the MSI Cubi 2MG and the pink noise chart below, the speaker in the MSI maxes out at only 70 dB(A) compared to 78 dB(A), 81 dB(A), and 76 dB(A) on other mini PCs like the Beelink SER9 Pro, Bosgame M2, and HP Z2 Mini, respectively. The differences may be just a few decibels, but they're certainly noticeable. Subjectively, the speaker in the MSI is not loud enough to fill a small-medium conference room even though it was designed for such professional scenarios. Most speakers in midrange to high-end laptops are able to reach 80 dB(A) in comparison.
When compared to the 2024 Cubi 1M that the 2025 Cubi 2MG replaces, however, the newer model is still an improvement as the Cubi 1M didn't feature any speakers at all. We're hopeful that a hypothetical third generation model can feature larger and louder speakers.
More information can be found on our review of the MSI Cubi 2MG here.
MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (70.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.4% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (16% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.9% higher than median
(-) | mids are not linear (19.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (29.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 70% of all tested devices in this class were better, 13% similar, 17% worse
» The best had a delta of 13%, average was 25%, worst was 64%
Compared to all devices tested
» 87% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Beelink SER9 Pro audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (13.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.6% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 30% of all tested devices in this class were better, 17% similar, 52% worse
» The best had a delta of 13%, average was 25%, worst was 64%
Compared to all devices tested
» 51% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 41% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
BOSGAME M2 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 9% of all tested devices in this class were better, 13% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 13%, average was 25%, worst was 64%
Compared to all devices tested
» 25% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 69% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
HP Z2 Mini G9-996Q4ET audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.26 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 6.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (11.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 10.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (34.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 83% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 13% worse
» The best had a delta of 13%, average was 25%, worst was 64%
Compared to all devices tested
» 93% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
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