Methods for processing ultrasound signals are provided. Processing of ultrasound signals comprises identifying qualified reconstruction channels in a receive aperture, grouping qualified reconstruction channels in the aperture, and preprocessing of selected echo signals using the grouped qualified reconstruction channels to produce reconstruction signals. Additional methodologies comprise comparing a number of channels in a receive aperture with a number of reconstruction channels to determine a number of reconstruction signals and grouping qualified channels in the receive aperture such that the number of reconstruction data signals is not less than the number of reconstruction channels. An ultrasound reconstruction unit comprising a receive aperture control engine configured to use selected echo signals to adaptively determine a set of reconstruction signals is also provided.