A conventional magnetic head has a structure, in which a MR element and a
recording element are stacked. The influence of a recording magnetic
field on the magnetically sensitive portion of a reproduction element is
lessened and the performance of the MR element is stabilized. Also, the
reliability of the magnetic disk drive using a MR element is enhanced.
The magnetic disk drive uses a composite magnet head, which has a
plurality of reproduction elements arranged such that the magnetically
sensitive layer of a reproduction element of the composite magnetic head
does not overlap with the normal direction projection of the recording
element, and which lessens the influence of a recording magnetic field on
the magnetically sensitive portion of each reproduction element.