A nonlinear equalizer for treating the nonlinear component of a distorted digital signal includes a first processing unit adapted to receive the distorted digital signal and yield an appropriate output signal in response thereto, a second processing unit adapted to receive the distorted digital signal and yield an appropriate output signal in response thereto, and a summation module for summing together the output signals from the first and second processing units so as to yield an equalized digital signal. In one embodiment, each of the first and second processing units comprises a linear filter, a partitioning filterbank for partitioning the distorted digital signal, and a multiplier for multiplying together the output of said linear filter with the output of said partitioning filterbank. In use, the nonlinear equalizer can be used to adaptively partition the distorted digital signal so as to allow for nonlinear equalization in a highly efficient manner. Prior to its use in this manner, the coefficient of each linear filter is optimized through the injection of multiple sets of test tones into the nonlinear system.