Number of Heads
Number of heads is the count of tape-head assemblies fitted to the machine.
Heads perform functions such as erasing, recording and playback. Some designs combine recording and playback in one head, while others use separate heads.
Number of Heads — Tape Deck
On a cassette deck, a separate recording head and playback head can support listening to the recorded tape while recording. The head count helps describe this arrangement, but the actual functions must also be identified.
Compare the role of each head, not only the total. An auto-reverse or dual-well deck may have additional heads serving different directions or tape wells. A larger number alone does not establish better recording quality or confirm that off-tape monitoring is available.
Number of Heads — Reel-to-Reel
On a reel-to-reel machine, separate erase, record and playback heads provide distinct stages along the tape path. Additional heads may serve reverse operation or another track format rather than add another recording channel.
Compare the head functions with the recording format and required monitoring behaviour. Head count is not track count: one head assembly can serve several tracks. Confirm separate record and playback operation when monitoring a recording directly from the tape is important.