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

The only speakers on those price ranges I’ve heard were Wilsons. Not impressed.

That said if I had $50k speakers there’d be an investigation. Or $10k for that matter.

I’ll take the big Raidhos on looks alone. Wow! I don’t really care how someone thinks they sound. The sound is a function of a great many things. Almost any speaker can be made to sound great.

These were mentioned above, but the 2 models that always come to mind for me are:

Joseph Pearl 3

KEF Blade

A year or so ago, I was at Boulder Amplifier and heard their reference system (and room) built around Stella Grand Utopia's.  Easily a > $500k system, not counting the cost of the room.  They poured a separate foundation for the listening room, built the room, and then built the factory around it.  Delightful overkill :-)
Not that long thereafter at a Colorado Audio Society meeting, I heard a member's system that featured a set of Acoustic Zen Crescendo II's in a smallish room.  (His electronics were home-built).  I was struck at how similar the soundstage, dynamics and overall voicing was to the Grand Utopias.  They are $25K new and I recently saw a used pair advertised on Audiogon for ~$9k.  Didn't have the spare change lying about or I would have pounced without hesitation. 

I think they're a must audition in the price range you're talking about.

The Yamaha NS 5000s are probably as good as anything regardless of price.Certainly in terms of sounding real and natural.Other far more expensive speakers might sound more impressive and more "hi fi" but I doubt they are better.