[2bigears]

    hi all ,,,, well my TT has a new deal going on ?? it sounds worse than my digital.   ha
           would it be the pre tubes for the line stage ??  or the cart ?? nothing is forever i new !!!!   dam ??
               not sure which to do 1st ????   missing my spinner !!!!

[ElliottStudio]

Could be a number of things -

Dirty stylus
improper setup (VTF, VTA, azimuth, zenith, etc..)
dirty contacts on the cart lead clips or input jacks to preamp

I would starts there..

[steve f]

Help us out. Describe your phono system please.

[2bigears]

   THANK YOU ,,,, its a Rega9,, xx-2 Cart ,,,, VAC REN PRE ,, i play very clean records always of course ..
           can't say the milage on the tubes ?? but i'm not happy .. can't play my black discs ....ha 

[neobop]

Still not much to go on, can you describe how the sound worsened?   Sounds fuzzy, bass or treble lacking, pitch ? 

How old or how many hours on the cart?  Have another to substitute? 

You'll have to be more forthcoming with information.  Most likely candidates in order of likelihood - dirty stylus, damaged/worn stylus, old belt needs replacing, tubes.

Did you check the contacts as suggested?  One loose wire could make it sound like drech while basic functions still work. 
neo