PURPOSE: To eliminate the damage of a tape edge by a head by directing the maximum slope direction of a rotary head drum attached to a deck to be a prescribed slope angle to the tape cassette side.

CONSTITUTION: The maximum slope direction l1 of a rotary head drum 3 is turned so that it has a fixed angle to a line l2 which connects a supply reel 10 and a take-up reel 11 in a tape cassette 6. Also, a loading post 4 on the tape supply side and a loading post 5 on the tape take-up side are both formed by erecting a slope guide 12 and a rotary guide 13 on a slide base 14, the slide base 14 of the loading post 4 travelling on a guide plate 15 on the tape supply side and the slide base 14 of the loading post 5 travelling on a guide plate 16 on the tape take-up side. Thus, the width where the head crosses the tape edge at the time of tape loading and tape unloading is reduced, so the tape damage from the crossing of the tape of the head can be controlled.