One example includes an equalizer system. The system includes a filter system configured to receive digital sample blocks associated with an input signal and to provide equalized digital sample blocks associated with the respective digital sample blocks based on adaptive tap weights. Each of the digital sample blocks includes samples and each of the equalized digital sample blocks includes equalized samples. The system also includes a sample set selector to select a subset of equalized samples from each of the equalized digital sample blocks at the output of the filter and an error estimator configured to implement an error estimation algorithm on the subset of the equalized samples to determine a residual error associated with the equalized samples. The system further includes a tap weight generator configured to generate the adaptive tap weights in response to the residual error and to provide the adaptive tap weights to the filter.