A rotary head for use in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes a fixed cylinder, a rotary cylinder opposed to the fixed cylinder, two electrically controllable movable elements mounted on the rotary cylinder so as to be 180.degree. apart from each other, at least two magnetic heads secured to the movable elements, respectively, at least one reference surface provided on the rotary cylinder, and a vertical position detector element for detecting the vertical position of the movable elements and that of the reference surface. The rotary head further includes a control system for controlling the movable elements in response to an output from the vertical position detector element so that the magnetic heads may be located at a predetermined vertical position with respect to the vertical position of the reference surface.