A magnetic head assembly having a flat surface for disposition adjacent to a recording medium and a protrustion in the range of about 1 to about 20 micro-inches on the flat surface effects coupling of the head assembly to the recording medium and creates a constant contact zone, surrounding the read/write gap of the head assembly, between the head assembly and the record medium. The preferred range for the protrusion is about 6 to about 8 micro-inches and the area of the flat surface is preferably in the range of about 3 to about 4 square millimeters.