Speakers under $50k that rival $200k+ speakers?

If you want that "big buck sound" for under 50k, I believe you would be wise to look into the Grandinote Mach 9's.  They list for around 42k, and they are a wonder.  I own their big brother, the Mach 36's, which retail for around 150k, and although the 9's aren't quite up to the 36's in terms of sheer magnitude, they have very similar characteristics, especially when it comes to the sound-stage and neutral coloration.  I know these are not well known in the states (they're manufactured in Italy), but if anyone here is in the NY area and would like to hear the 36's, I would welcome you to come over to my house for a listen, perhaps embellished with a fine dram of single malt.

By the way, the Mach 4's, which run about 25k, are also an amazing speaker, especially in a smaller room.

geoffkait, in this forum you are correct.

I’ve recently moved, and new friends and new guests who are not audio geeks come over and the first thing they see are the damn speakers and they go wtf because they are all sound surfing on buds these days... so they have not heard the wisecrack and it has become a reflex of late. My bad.

Agree with the Magnepan 30.7. But as others say, it depends on what your priorities are. The Maggies excel on acoustical music, they have a spooky realism to them. Even my old Tympani IVa's can be jaw-droppingly realistic (talk about bargains -- maybe $3000 used), and the 30.7's better them in every respect. 

For a full range speaker it's difficult to go past B&W 800D3. 

Probably lots of speakers would fill the bill but one I'm sure of is a used pair of Rockport Cygnus.