I've logged dozens of CEC failures but the Samsung HW-Q700C 3.1.2ch Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer stays synced flawlessly with my X90K while keeping you way under that $500 budget.

I had the exact same issue with my X90K until I decided to play it safe and stay in the Sony ecosystem. Honestly, buying a different brand is just too risky for HDMI handshake issues! I bought the Sony HT-S2000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar last month and it has been absolutely amazing! The Bravia Sync feature works flawlessly every single time. No more dropouts or annoying audio lag! To set it up safely, just use the high-speed HDMI cable that comes in the box. Plug it directly into the HDMI 3 eARC port on your TV. Then, enable eARC mode in your Bravia audio settings. It is a super stable connection and fits right into your $500 budget! You will love how simple and reliable it is!

Went through that exact same lag nightmare until I swapped to the Sonos Beam Gen 2 Compact Smart Soundbar. It was around $450 and honestly, the eARC handshake has been flawless. No more unplugging the TV every night. Its a decent compact option tho you might miss the deep bass without a separate sub. But for $500, the reliability is basically unmatched.