Transmit amplitude independent adaptive equalizers are provided that compensate for transmission losses in an input signal when the transmit signal amplitude is unknown. Several embodiments are provided, including a first embodiment having an equalizer core, a controllable-swing slicer and an amplitude control loop, a second embodiment having an equalizer core, a fixed-swing slicer and a control loop, a third embodiment having an equalizer core, a variable gain amplifier, and a variable gain amplifier control loop, and a fourth embodiment having an equalizer core, a fixed-swing slicer, a variable gain amplifier, and a variable gain amplifier control loop.