Ampex 500

Almost nothing is documented about the Ampex 500. The model number shows up in period sources, but always on an Ampex product that is not a tape recorder or playback deck. One is the "500 Series of Mylar-base recording tapes" announced for home use (HiFi/Stereo Review, August 1964, p.16). Another mention, in Audio (August 1962, p.98), lists "Ampex 500 Series Magnetic Recording Tape" with a brief spec - 500 cps frequency, dimensions 8" wide, 5¾" high, 2¼" deep, weight 12 lbs, price $60.00. That still appears to describe a tape product, not a machine.

Other "500" references around Ampex point to the AG-500 studio recorder, a different model introduced in the late 1960s, or to the company's Golden Reel Award program. No surviving documentation confirms a standalone "Ampex 500" tape recorder, amplifier, or tuner. If such a unit existed, it left no trace in the service literature, sales brochures, or enthusiast forums examined to date.

For now, the Ampex 500 stays an unknown. It may have been a tape series, or a short-lived product with no surviving record. Anyone with hard evidence is encouraged to share it.