Embodiments of the invention provide an inexpensive magnetic head tester employing component parts of a production HDD and capable of exercising functions very close to those of a production HDD. In one embodiment, a magnetic head tester employs the VCM actuator and the control circuit of a production HDD and has a lightweight, simple HGA fixing mechanism mounted on an actuator arm. The HGA fixing mechanism fixes an HGA to the actuator arm by a method using a very light holding spring mounted on the arm, a method of mechanically clamping an HGA by using air pressure, or a method of fixing an HGA to the arm by elastically deforming a rubber clamping member by air pressure. Servo control is achieved by the actuator of a production VCM. An end part of the VCM actuator is stopped by a stopping mechanism and is held by a holding spring to prevent the runaway of the VCM actuator. Servo control is performed by balancing the driving force of the VCM and the resilience of the spring.