The ticks and pops are from your record surface, they have nothing to do with your cartridge. With the investment you have already spent, you may want to consider a record cleaner like VPI and Nitty Gritty. They may do the trick for you. Check with your local shops and bring a few records to try out. The other way to isolate the problem is to bring your records with ticks and pops to your friend's system to determine if the problem from your records or cartridge.
Need help with LP cartridge choice.
I just bought a TNT V and JMW 12 arm by VPI and am astonished at the quality of this table. BUT! I am saving the cash for a good cartridge and I am new to vinyl. I mounted a Grado Signature JR MM (not real expensive, but ok) and I am playing NEW classic records pressings of Miles Davis and I get a ton of snap crackle and pop. Use a carbon fiber brush, static gun and wash and still this thing picks up every bit of pop on a record. I have a friend who has a great table set up and his plays as quiet as digital with the sweet sound of analogue. Dose the cartridge make that much a difference in the "cleanness" of the sound? I am pretty sure the set up is right. Vertical, azimuth, Tracking force and antiskate set as specified. Is there a cartridge out there that is good at keeping the popping to a minimum and why? Thanks for your help.