HDMI has been the predominant way to connect streaming devices and soundbars to TVs for decades. With HDMI ARC’s introduction in the late 2000s, the standard further simplified the TV-soundbar connection, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable between the two. A few years later, HDMI eARC ports started appearing on smart TVs, allowing you to enjoy native content from your TV in uncompressed audio on your soundbar.