A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes a reading and writing head for writing data on data tracks formed on a recording tape and reading the data therefrom to produce a first reproduction data. A simultaneous reproducing head is provided for reading a second production data from the data track just being written or read by the reading and writing head. A delay unit delays the first signal by a predetermined phase difference factor to arrange the first and second reproduction data on the same time base. A determiner is also provided for selecting either of said first and second reproduction signals whose signal quality is better than the other.