A synchronous read channel is disclosed which samples an analog read signal from a magnetic read head positioned over a magnetic disk medium, filters the sample values according to a desired partial response, extracts timing information from the filtered sample values, and detects an estimated data sequence from the filtered sample values using a discrete time sequence detector. To ensure a small frequency error when timing recovery acquisition mode is entered, the timing recovery phase-lock loop (PLL) is first locked to a nominal read frequency which is the same as the write frequency. This is accomplished by multiplexing the output of the write frequency synthesizer into the timing recovery PLL in a lock-to-reference mode. Thereafter, the analog signal from the read head is multiplexed into the timing recovery PLL in order to acquire the actual frequency and phase of an acquisition preamble recorded prior to the user data.