In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for all-digital high speed symbol synchronization to be called the MBECM (Modified-Band Edge Component Maximization). The proposed algorithm has a structure based on the spectral line method. It simplifies and modifies the existing BECM algorithm to compensate for the timing offset caused by different phase characteristics of the BPF (band pass filter) at 1/2T and -1/2T. The algorithm is also independent of the carrier recovery and requires only two samples per symbol for its operation. Until now the timing detector's characteristics of the spectral line method including the M-BECM was not analyzed, particularly effect of the timing offset at convergence point. We analyze the timing detector's characteristics of the M-BECM and derive expressions for the timing detector's mean value (often called the S-curve) as a function of the normalized symbol-clock phase, the rolloff parameterand the bandwidth of the BPF. By using these expressions, the PDbias for eliminating the timing offset at an optimal convergence point are calculated. We also analyze and evaluate performance of the proposed algorithm in various ways such as jitter, timing detector output characteristics, etc. and suggest improvements. The proposed M-BECM is compared to the popular Gardner algorithm for high speed modem applications. The proposed algorithm has simpler structure than the Gardner algorithm and simulation results reveal that the proposed algorithm has better overall performance than the Gardner algorithm in narrow band.