So, the lengths of the 2 passages don't contribute to loading the cones to a lower frequency in any way, due to the passages being narrower than the speaker baffle openings? Would vertical expansion thru this region offer any compensation? What if the horizontal narrowing were made more homogenous with the addition of an obstruction closer to the mounting baffle (see attached)?
Bottom line, I've challenged myself to find a way to make the speaker baffle openings in this (or a similar) configuration act like proper throats.