. Since x265 offers much better compression than x264, it is the go-to choice for users looking to save disk space without sacrificing visual quality. Here is how to set it up: 1. Create the x265 Custom Format
A Custom Format is a rule set that looks for specific strings in a release name (e.g., x265 , HEVC , 10bit , HDR ). You assign a to these rules. Sonarr then calculates the total score of every potential download and picks the highest-scoring release. sonarr prefer x265
To truly prefer x265, you need a that punishes x264. Create the x265 Custom Format A Custom Format
Custom Formats & Scores:
To make Sonarr prefer x265 (HEVC) releases without strictly requiring them, you should use (in v4) or Release Profiles (in v3) to assign a positive "score" to those terms . How to set up x265 preference To truly prefer x265, you need a that punishes x264
At very low bitrates (small file sizes), x264 can look like a blocky mess. x265 maintains better detail. However, at high bitrates (high quality), the visual difference between a well-encoded x264 and a well-encoded x265 is negligible to most human eyes. You are sacrificing CPU power for space, not necessarily for "better looking" video.