Sonarr: Prefer X265

While Sonarr does not feature a simple "prefer x265" checkbox, its highly customizable architecture allows you to prioritize this format automatically. By leveraging and Release Profiles , you can instruct Sonarr to hunt for x265 releases, upgrade existing x264 files, and safeguard your hard drive space. Why Prioritize x265 in Your Media Pipeline?

Release Profiles let you score releases or block based on words.

Before diving into the configuration, it is important to understand the structural benefits and trade-offs of switching your automation pipeline to HEVC:

How to Configure Sonarr to Prefer x265 (HEVC) Releases If you are looking to save disk space without sacrificing visual quality, configuring to prefer x265 (also known as HEVC ) is one of the most effective optimizations you can make. x265 releases typically offer 40-50% smaller file sizes compared to traditional x264 while maintaining similar or better clarity. sonarr prefer x265

Scroll down to the section at the bottom of the profile window. Locate your newly created x265 / HEVC format. Set the score to 100 .

Optimizing Sonarr for x265: How to Prefer High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)

for filtering out low-quality "re-encodes" or "bloat" releases? While Sonarr does not feature a simple "prefer

Purpose: Identify releases whose release title contains encoder/codec hints (x265, HEVC, 10bit, HDR terms). Sonarr can match custom formats to release titles for scoring.

If you want, I can produce:

Sonarr v4 manages media preferences using . This approach evaluates release titles using precise text matching and assigns scores to control what Sonarr downloads. Step 1: Create the x265 Custom Format Open the Sonarr web interface. Navigate to Settings > Custom Formats . Click the + (Add New) button. Name the format HEVC / x265 . Release Profiles let you score releases or block

In Sonarr v4, you can create a second for high-quality, trusted HEVC release groups (like QxR , MeGusta , or TAZ ) and give them an additional score bonus (e.g., 50 ).

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