> My living room setup is pretty standard, but I’ve got about $500 to $600 left in my "tech budget" to round things out. Honestly, prioritize protection first. I've seen surges fry boards, so I always use an APC Performance SurgeArrest 11 Outlet. For audio, the Sony HT-A3000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar is great cuz Center Sync keeps dialogue anchored to the screen. Ur PS5 cable is actually fine, basically no need to swap it. Just be reallyyy careful cleaning... only use a dry microfiber cloth, seriously!

I tried basic strips, but Tripp Lite ISOBAR6ULTRA Surge Protector is way safer. Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2ch Soundbar beats the A30. PS5 cables are 48Gbps anyway. Lesson: stock gear is legit lol.

Coming back to this... Re: "To add to the point above, I have..." - looking at the thread so far, everyone has basically covered the big stuff like surge strips and audio. But as someone whos been through a few Bravia generations, I want to add a few warnings so you dont ruin that X90L.

• Make sure you actually enable the Enhanced HDMI format in the TV settings for the PS5 port. Most people miss this and think their cable is broken when they dont get 4K/120Hz.
• Be very careful with the Acoustic Center Sync feature. It can sometimes make the audio sound thin because the TV speakers dont always match the timbre of a high-end soundbar. It might actually sound better with it turned off.
• Never spray any liquid directly on the panel. Gravity pulls it into the bottom bezel and it can fry the screen electronics instantly. Use a dry cloth first.
• Avoid jumping on every firmware update immediately. Sony has a habit of occasionally breaking local dimming or VRR with new patches, so I would suggest waiting a week to see the feedback. Its a killer TV, just gotta be smart with the settings and maintenance.

To add to the point above, I have been a Bravia owner for years and I am currently dealing with these exact same frustrations.

• In my experience, finding a straight answer on the Center Sync vs. third-party audio trade-off has been impossible for the last two months.
• I am still struggling to determine if my PS5 cable is actually a bottleneck, and the lack of clarity is honestly driving me crazy.
• Over the years, I still havent found a screen cleaning method that doesnt feel like a huge risk to the coating... it is super annoying.

Yo, congrats on the X90L!! I went through this exact same rabbit hole when I set up my theater room a few years back. Ngl, I spent weeks obsessing over signal-to-noise ratios and cable bandwidths... it's a lot. Totally agree with the above about the surge protection!! The Tripp Lite ISOBAR6ULTRA Surge Protector is legit because of the isolated filter banks. But if you want to stretch that $600 budget, I'd highkey recommend looking at the Sony HT-S2000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar and adding the Sony SA-SW3 200W Wireless Subwoofer. As mentioned before, Center Sync is huge, and in my experience, it's actually a game-changer for dialogue clarity. It makes the voices feel like their coming right from the actors' mouths on the screen rather than a box underneath. Regarding the PS5... dont fall for the marketing hype. The cable that comes in the box is a certified 48Gbps Ultra High Speed cable. I've bench-tested a few "premium" ones and there's literally no difference in the handshake or VRR performance. Save that $30 for a game instead. For cleaning, keep it simple. Most Bravia coatings are sensitive, so I always use the Screen Mom Screen Cleaner Kit with a high-GSM microfiber. Works like a charm without stripping the finish. Biggest lesson I learned? Don't overcomplicate the signal path. Keep it clean, protect the power, and let the Sony processing do the heavy lifting. gl with the new setup tho!!

TIL! Thanks for sharing

Seconding the recommendation above!! Honestly, you gotta be CAREFUL with those cheap strips. I suggest the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS cuz it actually handles voltage drops, which is pretty important for protecting those expensive boards. - Screen: basically just use MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths.
- Liquid: just a mist of distilled water if needed. Dont use any chemicals or youll ruin that finish... better safe than sorry!!

Basically, the thread has covered the vital stuff like power conditioning and the audio ecosystem already. Tbh, one thing that hasnt been mentioned is the actual installation and calibration process. I think you should realy look into whether you want to do a DIY wall mount or pay for a professional service. If you go DIY, just be careful with the VESA standards and weight distribution because those 65-inch panels have some serious heft to them. Also, IIRC, those mid-to-high end Sony sets come Calman Ready. I am not 100% sure if hiring a professional ISF calibrator is worth the premium on an X90L compared to a flagship OLED, but it definitely helps nail the color accuracy and Delta E. Some people say you can just copy settings from the forums, but since every panel has slight variations, that might not be perfect. Not sure if its overkill for your budget, but definitely something to consider if you want that reference-level look. It is basically the difference between a great picture and a perfect one. It is a bit of a rabbit hole but totally worth it for the enthusiasts.

> Re: "Make sure you actually enable the Enhanced HDMI format in the TV settings..." Man, reading this just reminds me of when my brother-in-law got his first big Bravia a few years back. He was so hyped, had all these plans for a massive 7.1 setup and like three different consoles. He spent basically four days straight crawling behind the media console, swearing at the dust bunnies because nothing would sync up right. Every time he plugged in a new box, the audio would just... vanish? Or the screen would randomly turn neon pink. It was honestly a nightmare to watch him go through it. We were all sitting there with pizza just watching him lose his mind over compatibility handshakes between the receiver and the TV. I would suggest being really careful with how you layer everything in, tho. I’ve seen projects like this turn into absolute sagas where you spend more time looking at the back of the TV than the front of it... anyway, just found this thread, but it definitely brings back some stressful memories of that weekend!