A signal processing apparatus configured to process a signal transmitted via a transmission path where a waveform represented by a signal value of a particular symbol is stationarily distorted in accordance with values of symbols transmitted prior to the particular symbol, including the following elements: a receiving unit configured to receive a test signal which is the signal including symbols set to predetermined values via the transmission path; an obtaining unit configured to obtain the signal value of the particular symbol from the test signal received by the receiving unit; and a characteristic computing unit configured to compute a characteristic of distortion of the waveform represented by the signal value of the particular symbol in accordance with the values of the symbols transmitted prior to the particular symbol on the basis of waveforms represented by signal values obtained by the obtaining unit from a plurality of test signals.