System and method for adaptively equalizing data signals with higher and lower data rates

System and method for adaptive signal equalizing in which overlapping data signal equalization paths provide cumulative data signal equalization to provide multiple equalized data signals having different available amounts of equalization. Signal slicing circuitry slices the equalized data signals to provide multiple sliced data signals, from which the sliced data signal selected as an output data signal is dependent upon the data rate of the incoming data signal.