A disc drive and a method of storing data using the disc drive are disclosed. Multiple data heads are each supported adjacent a corresponding one of multiple disc surfaces of a disc stack to form multiple head/media combinations. A separate guardband or recording density capability for each of the multiple head/media combinations is determined. An actual recording density is assigned to each of the multiple head/media combinations based upon the recording density capability for the particular head/media combination. The actual recording density assigned to each of the multiple head/media combinations can be different from the actual recording densities assigned to other head/media combinations. The disc drive is controlled such that data is recorded on each of the surfaces at the actual recording density assigned thereto.