Muro Box-N20 Lite Go
The Design Journey of the Wooden Case and Resonance Box
Muro Box-N20 Lite Go
The Design Journey of the Wooden Case and Resonance Box
Hello everyone, this is Dr. Chen-Hsiang Feng, the inventor of the Muro Box products.
At first glance, the wooden case of the N20 Lite Go may appear simple and minimal, but every detail has been meticulously crafted. In this article, we will share the story behind the design of the Lite Go’s wooden case and its optional resonance box, highlighting the thoughtful decisions and technical considerations that went into every step of development.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Yeh Chih-Wei of Chingkung Wood, whose support played a key role in making the N20 Lite Go a reality.
Here is the outline of this update:
▬Design details of the N20 Lite Go wooden case
▬Design details of the N20 Lite Go resonance box
Wooden Case Design Details
Material Selection for the N20 Lite Go Wooden Case
We chose to continue using hard maple for the main body of the N20 Lite Go. In addition to its beautiful grain, this wood offers excellent durability—it’s highly resistant to cracking, insect damage, and impact. That’s why hard maple remains our standard wood across the Muro Box-N20 and N40 product lines.
The Size of Wooden Case
Compared to earlier prototypes shown in public, the final version of the wooden case has been significantly reduced in width, aligning with our vision of creating a truly portable music box. The overall dimensions have been carefully optimized for on-the-go use.
Why the First Prototype Was So Big: It’s All About the Battery
The N20 Lite Go, like our other Muro Box models, requires a relatively high power supply (15V / 3A). Our first prototype used four 18650 lithium batteries connected in series, which demanded a bulky housing. This large case size drew mixed reactions from early viewers, with many commenting that the box seemed far too big.
How We Shrunk the Case Without Compromising Functionality
To address this, we explored two solutions simultaneously:
1. Reducing Battery Size: We switched from four cells to two, which simplified the form factor. Though this added complexity to the battery management circuitry, we worked closely with our circuit design partner to implement the changes.
2. Reconfiguring the Internal Layout: We stacked the circuit boards vertically instead of placing them side by side. This allowed us to increase the height slightly while dramatically reducing the width, making the case more compact.
Exploring Acrylic as an Alternative Material
As we adjusted the internal structure to increase vertical space, we also took the opportunity to explore different materials for the outer case—one of which was acrylic. Although we never publicly announced this prototype, a few visitors to our San Chong office had a chance to see it and share their thoughts through informal interviews.
While acrylic offers some advantages, its full transparency quickly revealed a major drawback: it exposed all the internal wiring and components, resulting in a cluttered and less refined appearance. Despite our efforts, it was difficult to create a visually elegant product with so many visible wires. Ultimately, the acrylic design was abandoned.
Additionally, the complex assembly required for vertically stacked circuit boards increased production challenges. In the end, we decided that this approach wasn’t practical for mass production.
Returning to Our Design Roots: “Rounded Within the Square, Squared Within the Round”
After spending nearly a month exploring various materials and form factors, we found ourselves returning to our original design philosophy—our signature “rounded within the square, squared within the round” aesthetic. This principle has defined the visual identity of the entire Muro Box product line.
A Hidden Interface that Doesn’t Look Like a Gadget
One of our main design goals was to create a music box that doesn’t look like an electronic device. We intentionally avoided placing control panels, buttons, or LEDs on the wood surface. Instead, we implemented a completely hidden interface based on capacitive touch sensors, with three main control areas:
1. A front panel that replaces traditional buttons
2. An NFC tag sensor on the top panel for memory tokens
3. A capacitive LED control area embedded within the acrylic lid
Simply press the play button after plugging in the N20 Lite Go to play the offline playlist. We can pre-load your selected songs so the recipient can enjoy your surprise gift with just one touch. The wooden box also features touch buttons for skipping to the previous or next song.
The N20 Lite Go has a flat wooden surface where users can place a Film Roll-Inspired NFC Token. With an NFC module embedded inside the box, users can assign specific songs or playlists to a token using an NFC sticker. Once the token is placed on the surface, the music box will automatically play the linked music.
Tap the acrylic lid with your finger to activate night light mode. While the music box is playing, you can also tap in rhythm on the lid to let it automatically add accompaniment to your beats.
As a result, the entire exterior—except for a tiny power hole in the back—is pure wood grain. At first glance, it looks like a simple handcrafted wooden box, but beneath the surface are multiple hidden touch-sensitive zones. This subtle contrast is exactly what makes Muro Box so unique.
Designing Subtle LED Lighting
Because wood is opaque and we didn’t want to add external LED indicators, we decided to utilize the acrylic lid’s light-diffusing properties. The LED lights are embedded within the inner frame and are not directly visible. Instead, light gently spreads across the curved acrylic lid, illuminating the music box’s mechanical movement without distracting from it.
True to the understated style of Muro Box, the lighting is soft, non-intrusive, and designed for nighttime use. In the future, the LED color can be customized via our app, and the acrylic lid will also serve as a touch interface for lighting control.
Battery Switch and Status Indicator
For users who choose the battery-powered model, we added a discrete power switch on the bottom of the unit, which also displays the battery level using color-coded lights:
● Green = Above 70%
● Yellow = 30–70%
● Red = Below 30%
We originally considered placing the switch on the side, but customer feedback from surveys led us to relocate it. Due to the case’s compact design, the base was the most practical location for this feature.
Bottom
In anticipation of the Open API release, we expect that customers may want to mount the music box in all kinds of creative ways—on walls, desks, or even hanging from light fixtures.
Starting with the Lite Go model, we’ve added a 1/4″ threaded insert (standard camera tripod mount) to the bottom panel of the music box mechanism, allowing seamless integration with existing mounting tools and letting your creativity shine.
This mount is also used to securely attach the music box to the resonance box, making it easier to carry around without worrying about accidental falls.
Designing the Resonance Box
Building on the design heritage of our product line, we combined our experience from the N20 Standard and N40 resonance boxes to develop a new resonance box that is compatible with all N20 models.
Since the N20 Lite Go was designed with mobility in mind, this resonance box also serves as a protective outer case, allowing you to conveniently carry the music box inside it. Once you reach your destination, simply take out the music box and secure it to the resonance box using screws—so you can enjoy stable performance wherever you are.
The top panel of this resonance box features a dual-sided design: one side includes grooves that match the base of the N20 Standard and N20 Lite, while the other side offers screw holes specifically designed for directly fastening the N20 Lite Go.
Why We Chose Birch Plywood for the Resonance Box
For this new resonance box, we selected birch plywood as the primary material. Our guiding principles were:
● Cost-efficiency
● Reliable sound performance
● Suitability for mass production
In the past, we experimented with exotic hardwoods like zebrawood, wenge, and acacia. While each of these woods offered unique acoustic qualities, they were not ideal for production. Through experience, we learned that the cost of the raw wood is minor compared to the labor costs of finishing and handling. Solid woods are prone to cracking and warping, which require intensive care and manual attention—making them more suitable for limited editions or custom orders rather than regular production.
The Benefits of Birch Plywood
Unlike traditional plywood, which is made from mixed wood species, the birch plywood we use is composed entirely of birch, known for its uniformity and high hardness. This material offers:
● Stable dimensions and easy machinability
● Lower processing costs, despite not being cheaper in raw material
● High internal hardness, making it well-suited for acoustic applications like music boxes
If you are particularly interested in having a resonance box made from solid wood or prefer a special surface finish—such as a high-gloss piano lacquer—and are comfortable with a higher price point, please feel free to email us for a custom request: support@tevofy.com
Storage-Friendly, Secure, and Designed for Quick Setup
This resonance box uses the same hand-tightened screw design as the N40 resonance box but reduces the number of screws from eight to four. The diameter of the screw heads has been increased to better suit quick assembly and portability.
The length and width of the resonance box are designed to allow storage of the music box and accessories such as the power cable inside the box. All accessories move together with the resonance box, aligning perfectly with the theme of “your music box on the go.”
During the design phase, we also considered using clips to secure the lid. However, after testing, we found that the appearance did not meet our expectations, so this idea was ultimately discarded.
The sound hole retains the default position from the N20 Standard resonance box, featuring a front-facing open design. Due to the reduced size and increased strength of the wooden case, the sound post has been removed.
Welcome to Enjoy
The Performance of the N20 Lite Go Music Box
Combined with the New Version of the N20 Resonance Box!
This video will first demonstrate the volume level without using the resonance box, followed by a demonstration of the sound performance when the music box is placed on the resonance box.
The newly designed resonance box made of birch plywood effectively amplifies the sound, and its detachable top panel makes it more convenient for outdoor use.
Compact Design with Room for Accessories: More Portable for More Adventures
To support portability, the N20 Lite Go can be securely fastened to its resonance box lid using hand-tightened screws. This ensures the music box won’t accidentally fall off during outdoor use.
The screws are designed with dedicated storage slots on the inner side of the resonance box, where they can be safely housed with embedded nuts—so you don’t have to worry about losing them when placing them aside.
In addition, we are currently designing a carrying bag specifically for the resonance box, making it even easier for you to bring your music box on the go—whether to the mountains or the beach—as you create more unforgettable memories.
Special Thanks to Chingkung Wood’s Support in Our Product Development
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mr. Chih-Wei Yeh and his wife from Chingkung Wood Co. for their invaluable support in bringing the Muro Box-N20 Lite Go to life.
Throughout this journey, we consulted with dozens of wood manufacturers across both Taiwan and mainland China. Ultimately, we chose to partner with Chingkung Wood because of their open-minded attitude toward innovation and their deep understanding of woodworking constraints. Their collaboration allowed us to transform our design concepts into reality with precision and care.
Designing a wood-based product is never easy. It requires deep familiarity with the physical limits of wood materials and processing techniques. As designers, we rely heavily on manufacturing partners to turn ideas into tangible results—and that partnership can make or break a product.
We’ve learned this firsthand. At one point, we worked with a large-scale manufacturer, and when we asked about limitations in machining maple wood, their response was simply: “Don’t worry—just trust us.” Unfortunately, that approach didn’t help us improve the design, and the resulting product had to be scrapped entirely.
Thanks to the guidance from Chingkung Wood, the design of the wooden cases for both the music box body and resonance box of the Muro Box N40 and N20 models has improved significantly. We are deeply grateful for their support.
Together, these perspectives shaped every detail of the resonance box—from wood selection, panel thickness, sound hole shape and position, to the overall dimensions of the box.
Chingkung Wood carries a woodworking legacy that spans over a century and represents an important part of Taiwan’s woodworking industry history. We look forward to sharing more about their story in an upcoming article—stay tuned!
We have accumulated extensive experience in designing resonance boxes for music boxes, such as through the design process of the N40 music box’s wooden case and resonance box, as well as the resonance box used for the N20 Standard model.
With insights from both handcrafted kalimba makers and precision woodworkers using CNC methods, along with valuable customer feedback, we finalized all the design details of the resonance boxes—including wood selection, board thickness, sound hole shape and placement, and overall box dimensions.
For the N40 music box, which is favored by professional musicians and collectors, we understand that they have higher expectations when it comes to the resonance and tonal nuances of the music box. To meet their needs, we’ve also designed additional resonance boxes made from solid hardwoods. If you’re interested in learning more, please refer to our dedicated article on this topic.
N20 Lite Go
挖貝群募正式開跑！
5/22-6/20 現正上線中
