A parallel acquisition system configured using a reference matched filter, thereby obtaining a superior acquisition performance and a high throughput as compared to conventional serial acquisition systems and conventional parallel acquisition systems including no reference matched filter. The parallel acquisition system includes a reference matched filter connected in parallel to a plurality of detection matched filters connected together in parallel. The reference matched filter serves to estimate a dispersion of interference components of reception signals respectively input at the detection matched filters. The parallel acquisition system can be applied to the receiver of a spread spectrum system for a packet radio data communication in a multiple access environment.