A dual active element magnetoresistive tape read head uses weak biasing of active layers to reduce Barkhausen noise. The read head includes a first insulator layer. A first active magnetoresistive layer is built on the first insulator layer. A second insulator layer is built on the first active magnetoresistive layer. A second active magnetoresistive layer is on the second insulator layer. The second active magnetoresistive layer is magnetostatically coupled to the first active magnetoresistive layer. A third insulator layer is on the second active magnetoresistive layer. At least one insulator layer is a biasing layer comprised of an electrically nonconductive antiferromagnetic material.