An acoustic receiver for use on a drill string includes a housing attachable to the drill string; a first sensor mounted within the housing for measuring a first parameter at a first location on the drill string and for generating a first parameter signal representative of the first parameter; a second sensor mounted within the housing for measuring a second parameter at a second location on the drill string and for generating a second parameter signal representative of the second parameter; and a controller mounted within the housing and communicatively coupled to the first and second sensors. The magnitudes of the first and second parameters vary in proportion to magnitude of the acoustic wave and the first and second parameters have a quadrature phase relationship. The controller is configured to combine the first and second parameter signals to determine the magnitude of the acoustic wave.