TRaSH takes a nuanced stance on x265, recognizing that codec preferences depend heavily on resolution and use case. Their recommendations:
This comprehensive guide covers everything needed to configure a robust workflow using modern Custom Formats , preventing common pitfalls and maintaining optimal quality. Why Prefer x265/HEVC in Sonarr?
Before diving into the settings, it is important to understand the trade-offs of shifting your library to HEVC. The Benefits
With Sonarr configured to prefer x265, a library of 50 complete TV series will shrink by an average of . That is the difference between buying a new 14TB hard drive every year versus every three years. sonarr prefer x265
: Ensure your media server has hardware transcoding capabilities (Intel Quick Sync Video, NVIDIA NVENC). For Plex, this requires a Plex Pass subscription. Alternatively, maintain separate libraries for x264 and x265 content, or use client devices known for good HEVC support (modern Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, newer smart TVs, etc.).
Many older or niche TV shows are only available in x264. New episodes often appear in x264 first (due to faster encoding speeds), with x265 releases following hours later.
To avoid this, consider pairing your x265 preference with preferred release groups. TRaSH takes a nuanced stance on x265, recognizing
While x265 is highly efficient, its popularity has led to an influx of low-quality automated encodes on public and private trackers. Some release groups heavily compress files to absurdly small sizes (e.g., a 150MB 1080p episode), resulting in severe visual artifacts, color banding, and muddy dark scenes.
Older versions of Sonarr relied on "Release Profiles" and "Preferred Words". In modern setups, provide a much more powerful and flexible way to prioritize media.
Creating custom formats only defines what Sonarr should look for; you must assign numerical weights to these formats within your to change Sonarr's downloading behavior. Navigate to Settings > Profiles . Before diving into the settings, it is important
: HEVC is the standard for 4K and HDR content, making your library ready for modern playback devices. Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Preference in Sonarr v4
Let’s look at actual savings. A standard 1080p x264 episode of Game of Thrones runs approximately 4GB. The same episode in x265 (1080p) runs 1.5GB.