A tape transport for use in a precision magnetic tape recorder/reproducer including three capstans with associated capstan pulleys driven by a single motor pulley. Bi-directional differential operation is achieved by providing a ''''hard'''' drive between the motor pulley and the capstan pulleys and by varying the diameter of the capstans so that the outer two capstans rotate at a higher peripheral velocity than the central capstan. In this manner, differential tension is created between the second and third capstans regardless of the direction of tape movement. The present tape transport further includes a plurality of idlers which control the path of the magnetic tape to achieve a cumulative wrap angle of more than 600* without any capstan contacting the oxide side of the magnetic tape. Such tape path further provides a plurality of tangent points for locating magnetic heads to improve tape-to-head compliance and stability.