A timing recovery apparatus for recovering the timing from sparse timing information in multi-level or partial response codes. The timing recovery apparatus includes a switch for sampling an incoming line code signal according to a selectable sample rate, a feed forward equalizer for filtering the sampled signal, a decision feedback equalizer for cancelling intersymbol interference in the filtered signal and for recovering the timing in the sampled signal. The timing recovery circuit creates a phase correction signal in response to a signal received from the feed forward equalizer and thereby control the sample rate of the sample switch so that the signal-to-noise ratio at the node before the decision is maximized. The voltage controlled crystal oscillator may be controlled within a certain frequency range by using a second phase detector which compares the phase of the signal controlling the sampling of the incoming line code with a reference clock.