A prototype of a fully digital data acquisition system based on 1 Gsps 12 bit digitizers for the TOFOR fusion neutron spectrometer at JET is assessed. The prototype system enables the use of geometry-based background discrimination techniques, which are modeled, evaluated and compared to experimental data. The experimental results are in line with the models and show a significant improvement in signal-to-background ratio in measured time-of-flight spectrum compared to the existing data acquisition system.