A data recovery system and method is disclosed. Said data recovery system comprises a maximum-likelihood detector, a non-maximum likelihood detector, a decision unit, and a selecting unit. The maximum-likelihood detector transforms a digital signal into a first binary signal. The non-maximum likelihood detector transforms the digital signal into a second binary signal. The decision unit detects a difference between the first binary signal and the second binary signal, and outputs a selecting signal based on the difference. The selecting unit coupled to the maximum-likelihood detector, the non-maximum likelihood detector, and the decision unit selectively outputs the first binary signal or the second binary signal based on the selecting signal.