<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-05-034532
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050610
<FILING-DATE>20050614
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050614
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AMPEX CORP /DE/
<CIK>0000887433
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3663
<IRS-NUMBER>133667696
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<STREET2>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<CITY>REDWOOD CITY
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94063-3117
<PHONE>650-367-2011
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<STREET2>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<CITY>REDWOOD CITY
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94063-3117
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>AMPEX INC /DE/
<DATE-CHANGED>19940505
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>AMPEX INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19930328
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BRAMSON EDWARD J
<CIK>0001016268
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-20292
<FILM-NUMBER>05896026
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>2129356144
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O BATTLE FOWLER LLP
<STREET2>135 EAST 57TH STREET 32ND FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd82550.xml
<DESCRIPTION>2005 STOCK GRANT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887433</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMPEX CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEXCA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001016268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRAMSON EDWARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>135 EAST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chmn of the Board, Pres. &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to acquire</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-06-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-06-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Non-qualified stock option grant pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Ampex Corporation Stock Incentive Plan.  The option becomes exercisable as to 50% of the underlying shares on the first anniversary of the grant date (6/10/06) and as to the remaining 50% of the underlying shares on the second anniversary of the grant date (6/10/07), and expires as to all such shares on the third anniversary of the grant date (6/10/08).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person does not own any other options with the same exercise price and exercise period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward J. Bramson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
