A side-ported MEMS microphone package defines an acoustic path from a side of the package substrate to a microphone die disposed within a chamber defined by the substrate and a lid attached to the substrate. Optionally or alternatively, a circuit board, to which the microphone package is mounted, may define an acoustic path from an edge of the circuit board to a location under the microphone package, adjacent a bottom port on the microphone package. In either case, the acoustic path may be a hollow passage through at least a portion of the substrate or the circuit board. The passage may be defined by holes, channels, notches, etc. defined in each of several layers of a laminated substrate or circuit board, or the passage may be defined by holes drilled, molded or otherwise formed in a solid or laminated substrate or circuit board.