A MEMS microphone is capable of operating with less-than-one-volt bias voltage. An exemplary MEMS microphone can operate directly from a power rail (i.e., directly from VDD), i.e., without a DC-to-DC step-up voltage converter or other high bias voltage generator. The MEMS microphone has high mechanical and electrical sensitivity due, at least in part, to having high-compliance, i.e. low stiffness, springs and a relatively small gap between its diaphragm and its parallel conductive plate. In some embodiments, a diode-based voltage reference or a bandgap voltage reference supplies the bias voltage.