During an RTA test, if a pink noise signal is played through the factory system, what does this output indicate?

The output of a pink noise signal played during a Real Time Analysis (RTA) test provides valuable insight into the frequency response of a sound system. Pink noise is a type of noise that contains all frequency components, but with equal energy per octave, meaning it has a balanced representation across the frequency spectrum (typically covering 20 Hz to 20 kHz for audio systems).

An output that shows only high-frequency signals indicates an issue with the system's response to other frequencies. In this case, if the analysis reveals that only high frequencies are output, it suggests that the lower frequencies are being filtered out or not reproducing correctly—common in setups where the system may not be functioning properly at lower ranges or where there is a crossover issue.

Understanding this helps diagnose whether a system is achieving a balanced sound as intended. If only high frequencies are present, it can signify potential issues in speaker or amplifier functionality, or incorrect settings that cause a disproportionate emphasis on high frequencies at the expense of the middle and low ranges. Hence, this output during an RTA test ultimately indicates the performance of the audio system across its intended entire spectrum.