A-standard (AGAIN!)

[Roland777]

So I've been playing around with my bass, now strung with a DR LoRiders 50-110 set and a D'Addario .145. It's quite nice when you fingerstyle, even if the bottom A differs a little bit from the DR's (though I suspect that has more to do with the differing manufacturers rather than gauge), it's a little less prominent in volume and harmonics. Still! Very good, nonetheless.
The thing is, what I've just mentioned here applies to fingerstyle and picking. The slapping on the bottom two strings is less than optimal for me, as I really have to struggle to get a good tone out of them when slapping - gone is the nice trebly "click"-response I had with the lighter Elixirs when I tuned to B-standard. Now I'm greeted with a very intrusive THUD when slapping the low D and A-strings.

What I'm asking here is a two-part question:
1. Will lighter strings help redeem the slap-tone, even if I maintain my tuning?
2. What should I do with the low A? Go with a lighter gauge, or change manufacturer? Or both? In that case, what manufacturer and gauge would you recommend to go with the DR LoRiders?

Or is it just so simple as to get a taperwound .145 from D'Addario?

Thanks for the help in advance.