Driven to Tears

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.

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.

No tears here...but, have had times when really good passages of music hit me just so and sent shivers up my spine....Happens with Carol Kidds, Linn recording of "All my Tomorrows" track 3 of Funny Valentine..the part near the end of the song where she builds up to the verse... "stay little valentine...stay" Gives me the spine tingles..still does it every time I listen!

Combination of great music and the right frame of listening mood I suppose. The system is just the vehicle that allows the music to convey the emotions..Tube or SS is irrelevant I think

I think this song has special meaning for me since it reminds me of my daughter when she was a kid. Shes was a Valentines Day baby :-)

I have had this experience, the first time in front of a grown man (who was then a stranger) who was demoing the Avantgarde Duos for me...surprise, surprise, I bought 'em!

Tubes, high efficiency horns and a refined front end can cause this most welcome phenomenon.

I also agree that the person's frame of mind, reference and mood play the major role outside of the music itself. I've been moved to watery eyes on a few occassions. This happens much, much, much more with movies which is why I enjoy cinema more than audio alone (cinema having more stimuli.) Many bash the home theater expierence but it by far trumps 2 channel audio for my enjoyment.

Now, to further add proof to my point, the last time I cried listening to music was listening to Mariah Carey's " Can't Let Go." Many would regard her as pop dribble but given the thoughts of my mother at the time I absolutey cried like a baby in my wife's arms and the song just helped release those emotions.

I remember the first time I heard Patricia Barber's " A Rush of Blood" from Cafe Blue (which again some may discard as not so avantgarde jazz dribble) on a Maggie 20 custom setup in a gents spacious family room. The sound ws so all encompassing that if not for two men standing behind me I may have watered up. I do remember purposely gathering my emotions...excitement and involvement. It was a wonderful match of song, system and room. The large room just melted away and had I been alone I may have been brought to tears, maybe. There is a certain physicality that a system can convey that can prompt an physiological and emotional response. Timbre, Tone and Bass response.