A data signal comprising an even component and an odd component with differing amplitudes is received at a main automatic gain controller (AGC). The even component is adjusted by a first interleaved AGC and the odd component is adjusted by a second interleaved AGC such that even and odd component amplitudes are substantially equal. Amplitude adjusted even and odd components are recombined to define a data signal with components having substantially equal amplitudes. The even and odd components can be generated by a read transducer moving relative to a magnetic storage medium comprising tracks defined by discrete and spaced-apart recording bits arranged in an interspersed pattern. A read channel separates the data signal into even and odd samples such that a gain can be independently adjusted for each of the even and odd samples to compensate for asymmetry between the even and odd samples.