The 
magnetic signal reproduction system comprises a magnetic recording medium comprising a 
magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic 
powder and a binder on a nonmagnetic support and a 
reproduction head, wherein a number of protrusions equal to or greater than 10 nm in height on the 
magnetic layer surface, as measured by an atomic force 
microscope, ranges from 50 to 2500 / 10,000 μm2, a quantity of 
lubricant on the 
magnetic layer surface, denoted as a surface 
lubricant index, ranges from 0.5 to 5.0, a surface 
abrasive occupancy of the magnetic layer ranges from 2 to 20 percent, the 
reproduction head is a magnetoresistive magnetic head comprising a spin-valve layer, the spin-valve layer comprises a 
magnetization free layer, a 
magnetization pinned layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, and the antiferromagnetic layer is comprised of 
alloy comprising 
iridium and 
manganese, and the reproduction head comes in 
sliding contact with the magnetic recording medium during 
signal reproduction.