A dibit response estimation generator receives a DSS sequence and a DSS readback sequence, which is a function of a channel processing of the DSS sequence by a read channel. The generator generates a cyclic dibit response vector as a function of the DSS sequence and the DSS readback sequence. The generator further generates an error signal as a function of a comparison of the DSS readback sequence and a filtering of the DSS sequence based on the cyclic dibit response vector. An unacceptable error signal indicates a need to adjust the cyclic dibit response vector to yield an acceptable comparison of the DSS readback sequence and the filtering of the DSS sequence based on the cyclic dibit response vector.