An assembly according to one embodiment includes a first module and a second module each having multiple transducers, wherein the first module is movable relative to the second module; a tape dimensional stability compensation mechanism for tilting the modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape; and an actuator adapted to exert a force on both modules for causing the relative movement of the first module with respect to the second module for aligning the transducers of the first module with the transducers of the second module in a direction of tape travel thereacross.