A system comprising a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphone assembly and an application housing, wherein the acoustical-gradient MEMS microphone assembly comprises: an enclosure; a microphone positioned within the enclosure, the microphone comprising a diaphragm, a first acoustic cavity formed on one side of the diaphragm, and a second acoustic cavity formed on an opposite side of the diaphragm; a substrate layer to support the microphone; a first coupling layer surrounding at least a portion of the enclosure and coupled to the application housing; and a second coupling layer, wherein a first end of the application housing is positioned on a first side of the first coupling layer and a second end of the application housing is positioned on a second side of the first coupling layer, wherein the substrate layer and the second coupling layer form a first acoustic tube forming part of a first transmission mechanism, and a second acoustic tube forming part of a second transmission mechanism, wherein the first transmission mechanism comprises a first sound aperture, the first acoustic tube and a first acoustic hole in the substrate layer, and the second transmission mechanism comprises a second sound aperture, the second acoustic tube and a second acoustic hole in the substrate layer, wherein the first acoustic hole provides sound into the first acoustic cavity and the second acoustic hole provides sound into the second acoustic cavity, wherein the second coupling layer is separated from the substrate layer and the first coupling layer by the first acoustic tube and the second acoustic tube, wherein the second coupling layer includes a wall separating the first acoustic tube of the first transmission mechanism from the second acoustic tube of the second transmission mechanism, wherein a first acoustic resistance element is positioned in the first transmission mechanism, and a second acoustic resistance element is positioned in the second transmission mechanism, wherein the first coupling layer is coupled to the application housing, and the application housing defines the first sound aperture positioned on the first side of the application housing that is axially aligned with the first acoustic tube, and the second sound aperture positioned on the second side of the application housing that is axially aligned with the second acoustic tube, wherein the first side of the application housing is positioned opposite to the second side of the application housing, and wherein the first and the second sound apertures and are axially aligned on opposing sides of the application housing an enclosure; a microphone positioned within the enclosure, the microphone comprising a diaphragm, a first acoustic cavity formed on one side of the diaphragm, and a second acoustic cavity formed on an opposite side of the diaphragm; a substrate layer to support the microphone; a first coupling layer surrounding at least a portion of the enclosure and coupled to the application housing; and a second coupling layer, wherein a first end of the application housing is positioned on a first side of the first coupling layer and a second end of the application housing is positioned on a second side of the first coupling layer, wherein the substrate layer and the second coupling layer form a first acoustic tube forming part of a first transmission mechanism, and a second acoustic tube forming part of a second transmission mechanism, wherein the first transmission mechanism comprises a first sound aperture, the first acoustic tube and a first acoustic hole in the substrate layer, and the second transmission mechanism comprises a second sound aperture, the second acoustic tube and a second acoustic hole in the substrate layer, wherein the first acoustic hole provides sound into the first acoustic cavity and the second acoustic hole provides sound into the second acoustic cavity, wherein the second coupling layer is separated from the substrate layer and the first coupling layer by the first acoustic tube and the second acoustic tube, wherein the second coupling layer includes a wall separating the first acoustic tube of the first transmission mechanism from the second acoustic tube of the second transmission mechanism, wherein a first acoustic resistance element is positioned in the first transmission mechanism, and a second acoustic resistance element is positioned in the second transmission mechanism, wherein the first coupling layer is coupled to the application housing, and the application housing defines the first sound aperture positioned on the first side of the application housing that is axially aligned with the first acoustic tube, and the second sound aperture positioned on the second side of the application housing that is axially aligned with the second acoustic tube, wherein the first side of the application housing is positioned opposite to the second side of the application housing, and wherein the first and the second sound apertures and are axially aligned on opposing sides of the application housing