I can see what your saying, but here's a couple of sample numbers:
1kHz equals ~13 inches full wavelength
2kHz = ~7 inches wavelength
5kHz - ~3 inches wavelength
Even if we assume that at least a 75% phase shift were required to have audible levels of attenuation, we're talking a "center" that's 3.25" wide at 1kHz, 1.75" wide at 2kHz, and .75" wide at 5kHz. All quite large enough to notice, though perhaps only on one ear at a time. Perhaps more important and evident would be that there will be just the opposite - coincident peak modes - just a half wavelength away for very definite apparent comb filtering at those frequencies.
I'm not saying that it wasn't a polarity issue, it apparently was. I'm just saying (I guess?) that we must have been given a incomplete description of the symptoms, because just a loss of bass wouldn't seem to indicate a polarity problem.
G.