Storage device that switches detector configuration sets between decoding iterations

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory register storing a plurality of configuration sets;
• a detector operable to detect bits in a digital stream read from a data storage medium, the plurality of configuration sets being sorted in the memory register based on a likelihood of an impairment for which each configuration set is optimized such that the configuration sets associated with a most likely of the impairments are used first by the detector;
• a decoder coupled to the detector and operable to decode the detected bits into user data;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory registers and the detector and operable to:
• cause the detector to attempt detection of the bits in the digital stream for a first iteration between the detector and the decoder using, in the detector, a first configuration set of the plurality of configuration sets;
• after the first iteration, load a second one of the plurality of configuration sets into the detector from the memory register, the second configuration set different than the first configuration set;
• and
• cause the detector to attempt the detection of the bits in the digital stream for a second iteration between the detector and the decoder using the second configuration set.

A method comprising:

• characterizing a performance of a detector and a decoder using known test data to determine first and second configuration sets;
• causing the detector to attempt detection of bits in a digital stream read from a data storage medium for a first iteration between the detector and the decoder using the first configuration set in the detector, the detector operable to detect the bits in the digital stream and the decoder operable to decode the detected bits into user data;
• after the first iteration, loading the second configuration set that is different than the first configuration set from a memory register into the detector;
• and
• causing the detector to attempt the detection of the bits in the digital stream for a second iteration between the detector and the decoder using the second configuration set.