1. A method for decoding a signal vector (x) in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission scheme, comprising: computing a simplified decoding metric based on a combined received signal vector ({tilde over (y)} N ) and a factor (L) of a combined channel response matrix, wherein the decoding metric is ∥L −1 {tilde over (y)} N −L*x∥ 2 ; computing a simplified soft-bit metric for the signal vector based on the simplified decoding metric; computing a modifier value, wherein the simplified decoding metric and the modifier value are derived from factoring the decoding metric; and combining the modifier value and the simplified soft-bit metric to produce a final soft-bit metric.