That's certainly most helpful to the OP. That recording and our discussions about it are exactly what I had in mind!
But in regard to the summed response ripple thing, since both pairs used the same spacing that will produce the same frequency response effect on both of them.
What I'd really love to hear is the same show, recording position, mics, and angle, but several different spacings. Even then it might be difficult to clearly identify the difference in response attributable to the ripple in the summed response, since the change in spacing will also effect the imaging and diffuse field correlation simultaneously.
Now if someone were to somewhat rapidly slide one of the mics along the bar during the recording, the summed response ripple thing would be immediately obvious to any listener. I say that because I did this with omnis years ago to get a better empirical understanding of how differences in spacing effects the sound and image. During the relatively rapid change of position the ripple becomes obvious from the flanging effect of the movement shifting its frequency centers. After becoming aware of it in that way, the difference in static response between various positions becomes more easily perceived. But actually doing that means intentionally sacrificing a recording. Maybe something to try at a meh opener. ..or maybe it works the same when testing in front of the stereo, I've not tried that. Best to make a relatively swift slide between the various spacing positions (that's what makes the flanging effect obvious) noting each position, either verbally on the recording or via time-stamps, and sticking with each position long enough to get a good feel for the sonic differences of the other aspects - the difference in static response, imaging, and diffuse correlation.
Curious about your thoughts about all that.
Years ago there was a tread here at TS about a few different stereo pair robot mic bars able to remotely adjust angle/spacing. Not really practical use type things but more like university project type stuff. I recall some youtube videos which included sound and video of one shifting back and forth between configs - you could see each config and hear the sound the entire time. I may search for those and see if I can hear the summed response flange effect while the mics are moving and the static response differences when still. If I find a good example I'll post a link here. As I recall most were changing angle at the same time though, complicating things.