A peak detector circuit that responds rapidly to power transients, and yet is able to avoid interpreting data fluctuations as power transients by generating dual peak signals from an amplifier's differential output signal, where the dual peak signals have data ripple components that tend to cancel one another. The system and methods permit the peak detectors to be much more responsive to power transients by expanding their bandwith (shortening the time constants) to the point that low frequency data components affect the individual peak detector signals, but the effects are cancelled out when the individual components are added together. The peak detector described herein may be used in an AGC system to provide ripple-free gain control signals, while rapidly following any power transients in transmitted signals.