Sonarr Prefer X265

If Custom Formats feel overwhelming, Sonarr offers a simpler, albeit less elegant, solution: Release Profiles.

Understanding Sonarr’s Logic: Quality Profiles vs. Custom Formats

In the Regular Expression (Regex) field, paste the following string: \b([hx]265|hevc)\b Click . Step 2: Assign a Score in Your Quality Profile sonarr prefer x265

While x265 is superior for storage, there are two things to keep in mind to avoid a "bad" automated experience. Watch Out for "Trash Guides"

Optimizing Sonarr for x265 (HEVC): The Ultimate Guide to Automated High-Efficiency Media Storage If Custom Formats feel overwhelming, Sonarr offers a

This is the most common mistake. You want high-quality x265 encodes, not low-quality re-encodes.

: In older versions, users would simply set a quality profile (e.g., 720p/1080p) and add a tag for "x265." This basic approach worked reasonably well but lacked granularity and was removed with the introduction of V3. Step 2: Assign a Score in Your Quality

One of the primary benefits of preferring x265 in Sonarr is storage efficiency. Because x265 offers better compression ratios, users can store more content on their storage devices without needing to invest in more hardware. This is particularly beneficial for those with large media collections or those who are limited by storage capacity. For instance, a movie that takes up 50GB in x264 could be as low as 20-30GB in x265, representing a significant saving in storage space. Over a large collection, this adds up quickly, making efficient storage solutions like x265 highly desirable.

: Smaller files mean smoother streaming over remote connections with less buffering. The Catch: Quality vs. Size

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.

: This format requires both x265 and 1080p resolution, useful for users who want HEVC for HD content but not for lower resolutions.