Clicks and pops after ultrasonic cleaning either suggest really poor quality or damaged vinyl records, or something is off with your cleaning procedure.
Re thin sound, consider experimenting with loading setting on your phono stage. I don't know recommended loadings for your two carts and what your PS has as options. I also found that putting a SUT between MC cart and MM-in of PS generates a fuller sound.
Also adjusting tracking force may change the sound quite a bit. VTA for some has a strong effect; I could not hear anything.