This paper describes the limiting behavior of linear and decision feedback equalizers (DFEs) in single/multiple antenna systems employing real/complex-valued modulation alphabets. The wideband frequency-selective channel is modeled using a Rayleigh fading channel model with infinite number of time domain channel taps. Using this model, we show that the considered equalizers offer a fixed post detection signal-to-noise ratio (post-SNR) at the equalizer output that is close to the matched filter bound (MFB). General expressions for the post-SNR are obtained for zero-forcing (ZF)-based conventional receivers as well as for the case of receivers employing widely linear (WL) processing. Simulation is used to study the bit error rate (BER) performance of both minimum-mean-square-error (MMSE) and ZF-based receivers. Results show that the considered receivers advantageously exploit the rich frequency-selective channel to mitigate both fading and inter-symbol interference (ISI) while offering a performance comparable to the MFB. © 2014 Kuchi; licensee Springer.