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Driven to Tears

I'm not referring to the Police classic cut "Driven to Tears." (which I really love) Recently and over time I've been reading posts here about audio systems that can produce music that evokes such emotion it can drive the listener to tears. I want that kind of system some day! I'm wondering, what is the common element to these various posts and audio setups? In my memory it seems that these systems sometimes were tubed based systems. I'm not sure if that's accurate or not. Maybe analog based? But it is has me wondering.

I've not heard that many audio systems and haven't experienced that kind of emotional connection. How many of you have experienced that kind of emotional connection with the music from a high end system? (the beauty of the music drives one to tears) What gear copmprised the system? Was it your system or some other audiophile's? Are tube based audio systems the common element to produce this kind of beauty and emotion or have you heard a solid state system that can connect with the listener on this emotional level? (or analog-based systems?) Have you seen someone's eyes well up with tears because the music eminating from a pair of speakers is so beautiful?
foster_9
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Nope, I've been driven from rooms by music, but I've never been driven to tears by music.

I've never seen anyone weeping to recorded music alone. I've seen tears at a live performance, and I've seen folks cry with recorded music that was accompanied by a video performace (movie), but not by recorded music alone.

Cheers,
John
abucktwoeighty's avatar
abucktwoeighty
1,079 posts
 
I can listen intently to Bonnie Raitt, "Not the Only One", at a moderate volume level on my current solid state system, and be driven to tears. It wouldn't happen on my old Marantz/Advent system because the sound quality just isn't there. But, there are other times when I listen on my current system, and there are no tears. I have to place myself in her shoes, to really feel the emotions the singer is trying to convey. As Tvad said, music by itself has never done this for me, either. Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven" will bring me to tears when the electric guitar starts to kick in and pick up the tempo. It just gives me the biggest rush, but I wouldn't have gotten that rush without the previous music with lyrics.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
an emotional response originates from within a person.
you can think about a piece of music, or sing it to yourselfand, perhaps, a thought will elicit an emotional response without any playback.

i agree with tvad and others that a stereo system has very little to do with eliciting an emotional response.

i think a lot of js bach's music can elicit an emotional response. it has a spiritual quality unlike many other musical compositions. there are other compositions i might include, such as faure's requiem and some music prior to the 17th century.
kennyt's avatar
kennyt
1,226 posts
 
Any system, even the cheapest out there, could drive you to tears with the right music and mood. I hear this used a lot, and do not agree it's system dependent. If the song/music you are listening to drives you to tears, it should be able to do it on any system, as it's the music, not the system that evoked the emotion.
peterd
122 posts
 
I also agree with Tvad and MrT.
I was driven to tears in 1973 listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" on a portable cassette player,and the player was about as much money as the tape.Course I was in Morocco at the time so that may have had an influence.However, I do occasionally get teary listening to my system now, course its not a cheapo.But I've never gotten the same 'Emotional Rush' listening to the same "Dark Side" ever,not live or recorded not even close.So yep the dollars spent offers no guarrantees.
In the case of my current setup the speakers is what really sets it up for an emotional connection for me.
So my suggestion is to find the speakers that feel as close to the highest emotional plateau for you and build the rest of the system around that.
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