Just catching up on the thread and honestly, the handshake stuff is a total nightmare. I went through a phase where I literally had to unplug my TV from the wall every single day just to get the audio to kick in. It gets old fast. Like someone mentioned, these sync issues are usually down to how the CEC protocol is implemented by the manufacturer. It is basically a digital handshake that fails if the timing is even a millisecond off. In my experience, brands that have a background in heavy-duty AV receivers tend to handle these software handshakes much more reliably than others. They build their hardware around the idea of switching signals constantly. If you want something that just works without the constant anxiety of will it turn on today, here are two safe bets:

• Denon DHT-S517 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
• Denon is known for rock-solid HDMI logic. It is a very set it and forget it kind of bar.
• Yamaha Audio SR-B40A Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
• Yamaha has a long history with Bravia compatibility and their ARC stability is usually top-tier. The key is really about finding a bar that treats the HDMI connection as a core function rather than an afterthought. When you set it up for Saturday, try to power cycle the TV completely after plugging the bar in... it forces a fresh handshake and usually clears out the old ghost settings from the Vizio. Youll be fine for your movie night, just stick to the brands that prioritize stability and safety over flashy features.

Honestly, I have had issues with Sonys own mid-range bars lately, they just arent as reliable as they should be, tbh. It is super frustrating. To save your movie night, try this:

• Grab the Sonos Beam Gen 2 Compact Smart Soundbar because it actually handles the Bravia handshake way better than cheaper brands.
• Get a Zeskit Maya 8K 48Gbps Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable to stop that annoying audio lag for good.

Unfortunately, my experience with third-party bars was subpar. For reliability on a budget, i suggest:

• Sony HT-S2000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Jumping in here cuz I totally feel your pain with those handshake issues. Building on the earlier suggestion, you really gotta be careful when mixing brands with Sony. Their Bravia Sync is notoriously finicky. If you go with a non-Sony bar again, make sure it definitely supports eARC and not just regular ARC, otherwise that annoying lip-sync lag is gonna ruin your movie night. Honestly, id avoid the super budget options even if they have good reviews... they usually have cheap processors that just cant keep up with the Bravias signal. I would suggest looking for something that mentions LPCM support too, since Sony uses that a lot. Just a heads up, always use the high-speed cable that actually comes with the new bar. Dont just reuse the old Vizio one or youll be right back where you started.

^ This. Also, honestly, I spent way too much time trying to mix and match different brands and it just wasnt worth the stress. I finally just switched over to a Samsung setup for my other TV and eventually went all-in on Sony for my main living room. If you want to avoid that headache, just stick with a Sony soundbar. Any of their mid-range stuff is gonna sync up perfectly with the Bravia TV because theyre basically built to talk to each other. I have been super happy with mine for over a year now and havent had a single drop out or lag issue. It just works, you know? No more unplugging cables or messin with settings every time you want to watch a movie. Samsung is also really solid if you want a different vibe, but staying in the Sony family is the safest bet if youre already fed up with the handshake drama. Just get a newer Sony bar and you will be fine for movie night.