A distributed mode actuator system comprising: a transducer (110, 204, 304) adapted to create a force to cause vibration of a load to generate sound waves, the transducer having a first width (W 0) along a first axis, a first height that is shorter than the first width (W 0) and along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a first length (L 0) that is longer than the first height and along a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, wherein the transducer (110, 204, 304) is a two-dimensional distributed mode actuator configured to generate separate forces along the first width (W 0) and the first length (L 0) in response to one or more activation signals, and wherein the transducer (110, 204, 304) is further configured to have different vertical displacements along its width, the vertical displacements being perpendicular to the axes of the first length (L 0) and the first width (Wo); a transfer portion connected to the transducer (110, 204, 304) along a first side parallel to the first and second axes, and having a second width (W 1) along the first axis that is less than the first width (W 0); and a stub (106, 202, 302) connected to the transfer portion along a second side of the transfer portion that is parallel to the first and second axes and an opposite side from the first side connected to the transducer (110, 204, 304), having a third width that is greater than the second width (W 1), and having a surface adapted to connect to the load to transfer the force received from the transducer (110, 204, 304) through the transfer portion to the load and cause the load to vibrate. a transducer (110, 204, 304) adapted to create a force to cause vibration of a load to generate sound waves, the transducer having a first width (W 0) along a first axis, a first height that is shorter than the first width (W 0) and along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a first length (L 0) that is longer than the first height and along a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, wherein the transducer (110, 204, 304) is a two-dimensional distributed mode actuator configured to generate separate forces along the first width (W 0) and the first length (L 0) in response to one or more activation signals, and wherein the transducer (110, 204, 304) is further configured to have different vertical displacements along its width, the vertical displacements being perpendicular to the axes of the first length (L 0) and the first width (Wo); a transfer portion connected to the transducer (110, 204, 304) along a first side parallel to the first and second axes, and having a second width (W 1) along the first axis that is less than the first width (W 0); and a stub (106, 202, 302) connected to the transfer portion along a second side of the transfer portion that is parallel to the first and second axes and an opposite side from the first side connected to the transducer (110, 204, 304), having a third width that is greater than the second width (W 1), and having a surface adapted to connect to the load to transfer the force received from the transducer (110, 204, 304) through the transfer portion to the load and cause the load to vibrate.