A second stage SOVA detector comprises a dynamic state reordering block with inputs that receive absolute state domain data from a first stage SOVA detector. The second stage SOVA detector provides relative state domain data outputs and selection bit outputs. The second stage SOVA detector comprises pipeline registers. The pipeline registers receive the relative state domain data outputs and the selection bit outputs and provide pipelined outputs. The second stage SOVA detector comprises a reliability update-register exchange unit receiving the pipelined outputs and providing detected data bits and reliabilities.