A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a main magnet (12) for generating a main magnetic field in an examination region (14), a plurality of gradient coils (22) for setting up magnetic field gradients in the main field, an RF transmit coil for transmitting RF signals into the examination region to excite magnetic resonance in a subject disposed therein, and an RF receive coil (16) for receiving RF signals from the subject. The RF receive coil includes a first loop (101) and a second loop (102), the first and second loops being disposed substantially in a similar plane (x-z). Also included is a signal combiner (120) for combining the signals received by the first and second loops in quadrature.