Trans-filter/Detectors are extremely sensitive circuits that recover exponentially modulated signals buried in noise. They can be used wherever Matched Filter/Coherent Detectors are used and operate at negative input signal-to-noise ratios to recover RADAR, SONAR, communications or data signals. Input signal and noise is split into two paths where complementary derivatives are extracted. Outputs of the two paths are equal in amplitude and 180 degrees relative to each other at the band center frequency. The outputs are summed, causing stationary in-band noise to be reduced by cancellation while exponentially modulated signals are increased by addition. Trans-filters are Linear Time Invariant circuits, have no noise×noise threshold and can be cascaded, increasing in-band signal-to-noise ratio prior to detection. Trans-filters are most sensitive to all types of digital modulation, producing easily detected polarized pulses synchronous with data transitions. Trans-filters do not require coherent conversion oscillators and complex synchronizing circuits.