A stacked microelectronic assembly includes a base substrate having conductive elements projecting from a bottom surface thereof and a first microelectronic subassembly underlying a bottom surface of the base substrate. The first microelectronic subassembly includes a first dielectric substrate, a first microelectronic element connected with the first dielectric substrate and first conductive posts projecting from the first dielectric substrate toward the bottom surface of the base substrate for electrically interconnecting the first microelectronic element and the base substrate. The assembly also has a second microelectronic subassembly overlying the base substrate. The second microelectronic subassembly includes a second dielectric substrate, a second microelectronic element connected with the second dielectric substrate and second conductive posts projecting toward the top surface of the base substrate for electrically interconnecting the second microelectronic element and the base substrate. The first microelectronic subassembly has a first height and the conductive elements projecting from the bottom surface of the base substrate have a second height that is greater than the first height of the first microelectronic subassembly.