A sound system assembly for use in a hand held device is provided. The sound system assembly includes a pair of transducers, and a corresponding pair of manifolds, which redirect the sound produced by the transducers away from the front or back surface of the device toward respective side facings of the hand held device. By redirecting the sound produced by the transducers, the apparent source of each audio source, corresponding to the respective opening in each of the sides of the hand held device through which the sound waves exit the device, is displaced further apart horizontally.