In my experience, keeping it in the family is the only way to go. Sony uses a tech called Acoustic Center Sync that lets the TV speakers work *with* the bar to boost dialogue clarity. It basically turns the screen into the center channel. Plus, with eARC, the soundbar settings integrate directly into the Bravia UI, so you aren't hunting for a second remote. It's lowkey the best UX out there right now. Here's what I recommend:
1. Sony HT-A7000 7.1.2ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar - This is the top-tier choice for Atmos. The soundstage is actually huge.
2. Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 - Their newest flagship. Super refined and fits perfectly under the new stands.
3. Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar - A solid "sweet spot" option that still delivers that height-channel punch. Anyway, sticking with Sony makes the setup way less of a headache tbh. gl!

Ok so, I'm sooo excited for you because a new Bravia is basically a movie lover's dream!! Before I give full advice though, quick question: what's the actual size of your room and your budget?? Like, are you looking for a single bar or a full system with a subwoofer and everything? Honestly, even though the first reply mentioned keeping it in the family (which is great!), I think the Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar is a fantastic and more practical middle ground. It's realy great because it has those built-in 2 subwoofers so you dont have to find space for a separate box on the floor. If you're willing to look at other brands for better value, the Samsung HW-Q990D 11.1.4ch Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer and Rear Speakers is technicaly amazing for the price, even if you lose that screen-sync feature. Definitely let me know about your budget first so I can help you find the best deal!! 👍

I went through this last year. I highkey expected a seamless experience with a premium setup, but unfortunately, it was way more complicated than I anticipated. I'm still kinda new to the home theater world, so I struggled with some glitchy eARC handshakes that made me reallyyy frustrated. It basically felt like I paid a premium for features I couldnt even get to work right... not as good as expected tbh. Quick tip: Focus on core Atmos performance over brand matching. HDMI-CEC handles the basics for ur Sony remote anyway. Based on my journey, here is how I solved it:
1. Budget Assessment: I stopped looking at the $1k+ range because the value just wasnt there for me.
2. Reliability: I eventually tried the Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 Premium Soundbar M512a-H6. It hits way above its weight class for movie nights.
3. Alternative: If u want a more name-brand feel, the Samsung HW-Q600C 3.1.2ch Soundbar is actually a solid choice. Both work great with a Bravia without the "Sony Tax." Idk, just my experience! gl!

I went through this last year. I highkey expected a seamless experience with a premium setup, but unfortunately, it was way more complicated than I anticipated. I'm still kinda new to the home theater world, so I struggled with some glitchy eARC handshakes that made me reallyyy frustrated. It basically felt like I paid a premium for features I couldnt even get to work right... not as good as expected tbh. Quick tip: Focus on core Atmos performance over brand matching. HDMI-CEC handles the basics for ur Sony remote anyway. Based on my journey, here is how I solved it:
1. Budget Assessment: I stopped looking at the $1k+ range because the value just wasnt there for me.
2. Reliability: I eventually tried the Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 Premium Soundbar M512a-H6. It hits way above its weight class for movie nights.
3. Alternative: If u want a more name-brand feel, the Samsung HW-Q600C 3.1.2ch Soundbar is actually a solid choice. Both work great with a Bravia without the "Sony Tax." Idk, just my experience! gl!

Totally agree with the first reply!! I spent years mixing brands and ended up with nasty HDMI handshake spikes that actually fried my old TV ports. So, I finally grabbed the Sony HT-A7000 7.1.2ch Flagship Soundbar and it’s amazing. It’s way more reliable cuz Bravia Sync makes the power-cycling totally safe. The big lesson? Staying in-brand is basically bulletproof for hardware safety and it's sooo worth it!!

Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.

Totally agree with the first reply!! I spent years mixing brands and ended up with nasty HDMI handshake spikes that actually fried my old TV ports. So, I finally grabbed the Sony HT-A7000 7.1.2ch Flagship Soundbar and it’s amazing. It’s way more reliable cuz Bravia Sync makes the power-cycling totally safe. The big lesson? Staying in-brand is basically bulletproof for hardware safety and it's sooo worth it!!

Same boat, watching this