Has anybody ever listened to a mid or midbass...

[454Casull]

...that was mounted on a baffle backwards? So that the smooth side fired into the enclosure, and the magnet was facing you?

How did it sound?

[Shaun]

It should not sound any different for bass. However, mounting it this way will limit the useable upper frequency. And, yes, I have heard it but have not, however, done a comparison.

[454Casull]

If the frequency response within the passband did not change, do you believe that the SQ still suffers?

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by 454Casull

If the frequency response within the passband did not change, do you believe that the SQ still suffers?

I can't think of a reason for SQ to suffer, no. My primary criterion for judging useability in my post above is indeed frequency response. Part of this will be due to diffraction caused by the motor assembly (magnet), and partly due to not having the full radiating surface available on the outside; i.e., the part that predominantly radiates higher frequencies, the inner cone/dustcap.