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

The Persona 7H / 9H midband is excellent. Tonally more forward than B&W 800 / 802D3 in a side-by-side compare, but I would judge different rather than better, but dependent on genre of music. The big B&W's excel in casting a larger soundstage, and a bit more warmth and bottom end. 

  

The Persona 7H / 9H midband is excellent. Tonally more forward than B&W 800 / 802D3 in a side-by-side compare, but I would judge different rather than better, but dependent on genre of music. The big B&W's excel in casting a larger soundstage, and a bit more warmth and bottom end.

Agree with that for sure.

I'd take an educated guess that the Linkwitz LX521 will match or surpass anything at $200k for a great deal less than $50k.

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/LX521/Description.htm

Thanks going to check it out

Classic Audio Loudspeakers makes a couple of models that easily deserve this sort of comment: I've not heard any speaker more expensive that actually sounded better.

The CARs also have the benefit of being easy to drive- 16 ohms and 98dB 1 watt/1 meter, with bandwidth down to 20Hz. I've been running them for years. With field coil operation they are as fast as ESLs.

Speaking ESLs, the Sound Lab Majestic is a truly full range ESL that can deliver dynamic range as well as the transparency that usually only ESLs are known for. If you want to know the top 5 best speakers in the world, the two I've mentioned here are on the list.

Sorry what are CARs speakers ?
The majestic looks nice, sucks they don't have a local dealer but I may try to listen to them if I take a trip.

The NS5000's are very nice. Very extended sweet treble and easy on the ear. Also, excellent transparency and micro dynamics. In one word, "refined". 

However, to my ears they slightly lack the macro dynamics of some of the competition at that price point, so there's not quite as much excitement factor.