

                                                                    Exhibit 23.1


         CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP, INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



                                333 Market Street
                      San Francisco, California 94105-2119



We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement of
Ampex  Corporation  on Form S-3 of our reports,  dated February 20, 1998, on our
audits of the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule
of Ampex  Corporation,  which reports  appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed by Ampex  Corporation for its fiscal year ended December 31, 1997. We also
consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts".


                                            /s/  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



San Francisco, California
November 4, 1998

