A stable variable-gain fully-differential feedback transimpedance amplifier (TIA), to serve as a multimedia data-receiver front-end, is analyzed and designed employing a current-mode amplifier as the feedforward gain element. For a more than triple variation of the transimpedance gain, from 0.3 kOmega to 1 kOmega, the variable-gain transimpedance amplifier achieves desirable gain-bandwidth independence. A prototype has been successfully implemented in a 0.35 mum CMOS and its measurement results are included.