Circuits and methods for providing a variable gain while powered from a low-voltage supply. In a specific embodiment, an input signal is converted to a current by an emitter-degenerated pair. A portion of the input current is discarded, while the remainder is variably steered between a shunt stage or an AC ground such as VCC. The output of the shunt stage is buffered by a high speed output, the bandwidth of which is increased by feed-forward capacitors. This arrangement may be optionally repeated for additional gain.