Uncorrelated source totals ignore the relative phases of signals.

Evidence

These calculations show that the summation of correlated sources can be strongly frequency dependent and can vary between zero and twice the wave pressure amplitude. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 267 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Adding uncorrelated sound sources raises level as the square root of their number; Correlated source summation swings from zero to twice amplitude by frequency; Correlated waves interfere with each other while uncorrelated sources do not (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• Correlated source summation swings from zero to twice amplitude by frequency #expands (0.90)
• Uncorrelated sound waves sum by power, not by amplitude. #expands (0.90) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 244
• Correlated sound sources sum to between zero and twice their individual amplitudes #corroborates (0.90) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 267
• Correlated sound sources add pressures while uncorrelated ones add energy #expands (0.90)
• Sound power and intensity levels are unaffected by source correlation, unlike pressure level #expands (0.90)
• Interference pattern of correlated sources varies with both listener position and frequency #expands (0.85) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 241
• The power spectrum is blind to the relative phase of a sound’s components #expands (0.85)
• Correlated waves interfere with each other while uncorrelated sources do not #expands (0.80)
• Correlated sound sources create spatial interference patterns that uncorrelated sources do not. #expands (0.75)