If I thought someone’s system sounded "piercing" I’d be well-mannered enough, I hope, to hide my opinion. Imagine your friend prefers the warmest and richest of cartridges, even at the expense of detail. He persuades you to replace your "piercing" cartridge, which you like and enjoy, with one like his. Would you, could you be happy then?
Your system is for your enjoyment. His tastes will be different to yours, inevitably. Enjoy your cartridge and ignore what might be right for him.