Uncorrelated noise from surround speakers creates enveloping source perception.

Evidence

A loudspeaker layout with loudspeakers around the listener can also be used to control the width of a virtual source or even to produce an enveloping perception of the sound source. A simple demonstration can be made by playing back pink noise through all loudspeakers independent of each other (Blauert, 1996). The sound source is then perceived to surround the listener completely. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1914

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1914
• XREF: connects to: Adding rear speakers at matching angles does not improve spatial illusion — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 724; Excess uncorrelated rear-wall sound can destroy the phantom center image — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 702; Direct sound determines localization, loudness, and perceived spectrum quality — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1546 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Uncorrelated ambient signals create an impression of directionless surround sound. #corroborates (0.85) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2218
• Audio decorrelation creates perceptually transparent extra independent channels from few signals #qualifies (0.75)
• A source’s changing directionality with frequency alters perceived timbre via the reverberant field #expands (0.70) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1796