Method and apparatus for improving signal-to-noise ratio in longitudinal recording media

A first recording layer of a longitudinal recording media residing at the top of a recording media structure comprising:

• an upper sublayer comprised of a CoPtCrB-based alloy material;
• a lower sublayer comprised of a CoPtCrB-based alloy material;
• a middle sublayer comprised of a CoCrB-alloy, said middle sublayer coupled to said upper sublayer and to said lower sublayer and thinner than said upper sublayer and said lower sublayer;
• and
• a second recording layer coupled to said first recording layer by a coupling layer, said second recording layer having an opposite magnetization direction to the magnetization direction of said first recording layer, an underlayer deposited prior to said second layer, wherein said second layer is adjacent to said underlayer and wherein said underlayer comprises a CrMoB-based alloy.