Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to magnetic recording heads of magnetic recording devices. A read head includes a first reader, an insulating separation layer, and a second reader disposed above the insulating separation layer. The second reader includes a magnetic seed layer and a cap layer. The second reader includes a first upper free layer disposed between the magnetic seed layer and the cap layer, and a second upper free layer disposed between the first upper free layer and the cap layer. The second reader includes a barrier layer. In one implementation the second reader includes an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer disposed between the magnetic seed layer and the insulating separation layer to pin the magnetic seed layer.