Garrard 301 - Project

I have not tried the bugle boy or tungsram but I might try and get a pair of the Bugle Boy’s or Some nice Brimar’s.

The Mullard’s I have are 1950s halo getter long plates.  I put them back in my DAC after listening to the Sovtek LPS for a few days and they sure do sound nice. They were $450.00 per pair but are now sold  old at Brent Jesse but has other variants available.

as you probably know he lists every tube available on his website which has good descriptions but I usually just email him and ask for advice which I may do shortly.

let us know what you end up getting

@lalitk  I really think you can do better on the phono stage. You are running pretty a much state-of-the-art (within reason) turntable suite and feeding it into a basic phono amp (Softone #4). This is really compromising the analog end of things. 
I know you mentioned budget so this might be a better option.
Or an Aric Audio Super MC/MM Phono with some options. YOLO,

I would not go out of my way or to great expense to mess around with Bugle Boys (even assuming you can find a legitimate pair of them, which I doubt) or Mullards, when you can buy either JJ or Sovtek LPS any day of the week at reasonable cost. BBs and Mullards are not any better, IMO. I've got some legit BBs that I bought in the 70s, and they are not better than the modern reissues or as good as TFKs, for 12AX7s. (In my experience, the U, T, and X version of the 12A_7 series must be evaluated separately on a brand per brand basis. For example, 12AU7 BBs are very good but 12AX7 BBs were nothing special.) Then too, some tubes were made in one factory then branded as if made in another. Tube-aholics know all such stories but not me.  Best 12AT7 I evaluated were made in China sold by Billington in the UK.  GE Gold Star were second best.

@noromance 

Totally hear you and I appreciate the feedback. On surface, the Softone Model 4 may appear to be weakest link given rest of the components in the analog chain but Model 4 phono turned out to be pretty darn good and wonderfully engaging. Having said that, I am keeping my options open as far as trying more phono’s down the road.

And hey, you’re right—YOLO.

@lalitk I forgot  - the Mullard’s are marked 12AX7 not any of the variants suggested.

@lewm Brent Jesse has various Amperex/BB available, yes they are expensive but I trust him in terms of authenticity. 

I disagree on the value proposition though - while I do agree the Sovtek 12AX7LPS is very good, the NOS Mullard’s and Tele’s are more pleasing to my ears.

@noromance I bought a used Model 4 on Lalit’s recommendation. I think it is ridiculously good for the money. I knew my Goldnote PH-10+PSU-10 ($3k new) was a bottleneck after buying a Clearaudio Innovation and an MSL Signature Platinum, but was holding off a next-level PS for a while. The Model 4 is way better than the GN. Maybe not end-game, but will definitely keep me happy for a while. 

The Aric MC is 4.5 times the price of the model 4. Have you heard both?