What are the must-have accessories for a new Sony TV?

Question

Hey everyone! I finally pulled the trigger on a new Sony Bravia XR A80L during a recent sale, and I’m absolutely blown away by the picture quality—the blacks and the contrast are just incredible. However, now that it's officially sitting on my media console, I’m starting to realize that the TV itself is just the beginning of the setup. I want to make sure I’m getting the absolute best experience possible out of this investment, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the options.

I’m looking for recommendations on what you’d consider the 'essential' add-ons. For starters, while the built-in speakers are actually better than I expected, they don't quite deliver that true 'theater' feel for movie nights. I’ve heard about Sony’s 'Acoustic Center Sync' which lets the TV act as a center channel—is it worth specifically getting a Sony-brand soundbar or HT-A series system just to use that feature, or should I look at other brands like Sonos or Samsung?

Secondly, I’m a big gamer and I’ve got my PS5 hooked up to one of the HDMI 2.1 ports. Are there specific high-speed cables you guys swear by to ensure I’m getting the full 4K/120Hz experience without any signal flicker? I’ve also been thinking about bias lighting for the back of the set to help with eye strain during late-night sessions, but I’m not sure which brands play nice with the Google TV interface or the Sony chassis design.

Lastly, has anyone upgraded their remote? The one that came in the box is functional, but I’ve seen those premium backlit Sony remotes online and they look so much more convenient for dark rooms. Are there any other 'quality of life' accessories I’m missing, like specific cleaning cloths that won't damage the OLED coating or perhaps an external drive for extra app storage?

I’d love to hear from fellow Sony owners: what were the first few things you bought to complete your setup, and what do you consider a 'must-have' for the best experience?

RonaldWen · Accepted Answer

I'm satisfied with these reliable budget options: - Monoprice 8K Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 Cable - Govee TV LED Backlight H6110 They reduce eye strain and work well!

Josephsheld · Answer

+1 to those cables! Safety first tho, these work well: - Screen Mom Screen Cleaner Kit for OLED coatings. - Belkin 12-Outlet Pivot-Plug Surge Protector so a surge doesnt fry your TV!!

Allented · Answer

Here's what I recommend: Congrats on the A80L, it's a stellar panel but man, u gotta be careful with how u treat it. I've seen too many people spend thousands and then cheap out on the extras or use the wrong stuff. First off, the audio. I tried the Sony HT-A7000 Soundbar specifically for that Acoustic Center Sync feature. Ngl, I was kinda disappointed. While it sounds cool on paper, I had issues with the TV speakers not quite matching the timber of the soundbar. It felt a bit disjointed? If ur looking for absolute reliability and the best soundstage, I'd suggest just letting a high-end bar or receiver do all the work and skip the center sync. For the PS5, seriously, dont grab a random cable from a bin. You need a certified Ultra High Speed one. I always suggest the Zeskit Maya 8K 48Gbps HDMI Cable cuz it's actually tested to industry standards and wont give u those annoying signal drops at 4K/120Hz. About the bias lighting—be careful here too. Most cheap LED strips have terrible color accuracy. If u want to protect ur eyes without messing up the A80L's perfect blacks, get the MediaLight Mk2 Flex. It's 6500K (CIE D65) which is the industry standard for color accuracy. Anything else is basically just gonna wash out ur contrast and ruin the look of the OLED. Lastly, the cleaning situation is CRITICAL. OLED coatings are super delicate. Unfortunately, I've seen people use chemicals and literally strip the anti-reflective layer off. Only use a high-quality MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloth and maybe a tiny bit of distilled water. No soaps, no Windex, nothing. Oh, and definitely grab the Sony RMF-TX910U backlit remote. Honestly, it shouldve come in the box for what we paid lol, but it makes navigating in the dark sooo much better. gl with the setup!