Which soundbars offer the best compatibility with Sony Bravia TVs?

Question

I just got a 65 inch Sony X90L and honestly im panicking a bit about the sound setup because I move into my new place in five days and have zero speakers yet. I really want that acoustic center sync thing to work but my budget is strictly under 800 bucks. I'm torn between the Sony HT-A5000 which seems like the safe bet for a Bravia but then i see people raving about the Sonos Beam Gen 2 or even the Bose 600 for smaller rooms like mine.

Is the Sony bar actually better for a Sony TV or is that just marketing fluff? I dont want to deal with two remotes or weird lag during gaming on my PS5. Which one should I pull the trigger on before Friday?

Mojaveknr · Accepted Answer

Honestly, moving is stressful enough without worrying about audio lag. I went through this exact panic with my setup last year. If you really want that Acoustic Center Sync, you pretty much have to stick with a Sony bar because it is a proprietary feature. It basically turns your TV screen into the center speaker which helps dialogue sound like it is actually coming from the actors' mouths. I would suggest keeping these practical points in mind before Friday:

The Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar is the safest bet for your budget. Since you have an X90L, the soundbar settings will actually show up in your TV's Quick Settings menu. No extra apps needed and it definitely solves the two remotes problem.

Be careful with the Sonos Beam Gen 2 Compact Smart Soundbar. It sounds great for the size, but you will lose the Center Sync and the integrated UI. You might find yourself messing with the Sonos app more than you would like.

For your PS5, the Sony bar is gonna be much more reliable for stuff like Auto HDR Tone Mapping. Other brands can sometimes be finicky with the passthrough.

Make sure to check for deals on the Sony HT-A3000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar too. If you can get that and the Sony SA-SW3 200W Wireless Subwoofer within your 800 dollar limit, the extra bass might be worth dropping down from the A5000. Its not just marketing fluff, the integration really does make life easier when you just want to sit down and play games without troubleshooting. If you need help with the cable setup once you move in, just shout!