A read channel and method using that read channel are disclosed. The read
channel comprises an analog to digital converter which asynchronously
samples at a fixed rate an analog signal formed by reading a data track,
where that data track was written to a data storage medium at a symbol
rate and an interpolator interconnected with the analog to digital
converter. The read channel further comprises a fractionally-spaced
equalizer, where the interpolator provides an interpolated signal to the
fractionally-spaced equalizer at an interpolation rate, where that
interpolation rate is greater than the symbol rate. The
fractionally-spaced equalizer forms a synchronous equalized signal. The
read channel further comprises a gain control module interconnected with
the fractionally-spaced equalizer, and a sequence detector interconnected
with the gain control module.