Based in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA , the Voice Of Music Company (V-M) was founded in 1944 by electrical engineer Walter Miller. Initial production mainly comprised of record changer and later, tape deck components. Many of these were purchased by other manufacturers for their own lines of equipment and marketed under hundreds of brand names. In the mid 1950s, V-M produced some high quality consumer tape recorders under their own name and later, a few high fidelity components such as the 1428 and 1448 stereo amplifier.

V-M sales peaked in 1962, but then steadily declined with increasingly fewer new products being introduced until finally, in 1977, they filed for bankruptcy.

The stereo integrated amplifier Model 1428 debuted in 1961 at a suggested retail price of $129.95. Using four EL84 / 6BQ5 output tubes, it produced 30 watts (peak) per channel with less than1% harmonic and 2% IM distortion at rated output.

Features included bass and treble controls (±15db at 50 cps and 15Kc respectively), provision for two sets of speakers, channel reversing, phase switch and loudness control. Frequency response was rather unspectacular at 20 cps to 30Kc (± 2dB).

A year later V-M brought out the 1448 at $89.95. It was the little brother to the Model 1428, identical in appearance but with less power (20 watts peak per channel) and no phasing or stereo reverse facility.

Today an attractively presented and working Model 1448 is worth around $150 to $200 with the higher powered Model 1428 fetching between $200-$300. Mint or restored units would be worth more.

Many thanks to Gary Stork of V-M Audio Enthusiasts (www.thevoiceofmusic.com) for providing information and copies of the original sales brochures.

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above: Model 1428




above: Model 1448