Ecosystem features are mostly marketing bloat tbh. Grab Vizio M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 Soundbar M512E-K6 on sale; its 5.1.2 specs provide way better movie immersion for your budget than entry Sony gear.

Regarding what #3 said, unfortunately I had major firmware and reliability issues with Vizio on my Sony. Not as good as expected. Get the Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar, it wont glitch.

Congrats on the X90L! That screen is absolutely amazing! If you want a setup that is 100% reliable for your movie night next week, sticking with Sony is the only way to go. I love how seamless the ecosystem is! Honestly, mixing brands can lead to annoying HDMI handshake issues, and nobody wants to troubleshoot in front of guests.

• Rock-solid Reliability: Using Sony with Sony ensures the TV and bar talk to each other perfectly every time. It is the safest route for a stress-free night!
• Better Control: You can adjust all your sound settings right from the TV remote. It is so much more stable than messing with separate apps like you would with Sonos!
• Better Immersion: Since you want that feature, the Sony HT-A3000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar fits your budget and still supports that acoustic sync tech. Go with the A3000! It is a fantastic choice that keeps things simple and safe for your big night!

Just found this. ^ This. Also, please be cautious about eARC sync issues. Consider this option:

• Sony HT-S2000 3.1ch Soundbar It fits your $600 budget while maintaining system stability.

Re: "Regarding what #3 said, unfortunately I had major..." - yeah i totally get the frustration with firmware issues on mixed brands. honestly, i have been super satisfied sticking with the same brand for my home theater. it just works well without any glitches which is exactly what you want for a big movie night. if you want to stay under that $600 mark but still get the ecosystem perks, look at the Sony HT-A3000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar. it is a solid step up from the basic models and fits your budget perfectly. here is why sticking with sony makes sense:

• the bravia sync is basically bulletproof. you wont be fumbling with two remotes while your guests are waiting.
• the acoustic center sync really helps with dialogue. it makes the voices sound like they are coming from the actors faces instead of from under the tv.
• you get the on-screen settings menu. you can adjust the soundbar right from the tv remote settings without needing a separate app. ive been really happy with how reliable this setup is and i have zero complaints about the stability. definitely safer than gambling on another brand right before your event. should be a killer movie night.

Nice, didn't know that