Did I ruin my cartridge or my stylus? Or both?

I’ve played more than my share of wretched, ancient, filthy vinyl in my days. And sometimes the needle and cantilever would look pretty dirty afterwards. In any case, I’d clean it best you can. Did the cartridge come with a stylus brush? Did you ever buy a bottle of stylus cleaner, like Stylast or Tweek? If so, give it a go, but if the brush is the least bit stiff only go back to front!!! In any case, chances are decent the cartridge/stylus will become usable again. Mine always did. A small watercolor brush and distilled water might work, too. With this combo, you don’t have to just go back to front, either.

The stylus assembly pulls out of the MM cartridge body. Yank it out, have a good look, it’s possible the stylus tip is ok, but you got gunk along-side the cantilever as it recedes into it’s housing, that would make it sound muddy, clean it out, back in business.

I keep this 3.5" diameter mirror, 20x magnifier, on the plinth below my cartridge when at rest. Very easy to view the underside, tilt it, view from various angles. I aim a nearby light at the mirror, it reflects up making it very easy to see everything.

This is another reason a removable headshell is an advantage. Especially if you gunked up a MC cartridge with non-removable stylus.

I will add, if it is ruined, rather than a new stylus for it, I would take the opportunity/advantage to upgrade to a cartridge with wider stereo separation and tighter channel balance, I think the AT540ml is a good choice

a similar sound with far better imaging.

Hello, thank you very much everybody for the recommendations!!!

I always use the Audio Technica cleaning solution for stylus and a gel pad, so I think is more than a dirty stylus. 

I decided to try a new cartridge/stylus. I ordered the Ortophon 2M Blue before reading your suggestion Elliot. 

Problem solved!! Now my system sounds good again, a little different because of the 2M Blue.

Thanks again for your commenters!!!

Good listening!