A voltage-mode VCM controller is provided comprising an Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter that modifies a servo control voltage signal to a voltage driver in response to an adaptive compensator that configures the IIR filter in relation to an observed VCM velocity and an actual VCM velocity. An associated method is provided comprising modeling a velocity response of a VCM to a voltage input; inputting the observed velocity and an actual VCM velocity to an adaptive compensator that computes a gain and a VCM response pole frequency in relation to the VCM resistance and inductance; configuring an IIR filter in relation to the computed gain and pole frequency values; and using the IIR filter to modify a voltage command from a servo controller to a power driver.