Sonarr Prefer X265 ((free))

This article was originally published for the /r/sonarr and /r/DataHoarder communities. Always verify your local copyright laws before automating downloads.

x265, also known as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), is a video compression standard designed to succeed H.264/AVC (x264). It offers significantly better compression efficiency than its predecessor, meaning it can store or stream video at a much smaller file size without a noticeable decrease in video quality. This efficiency is crucial for media enthusiasts who want to save on storage costs and bandwidth without sacrificing video quality.

Tagging:

: Quality supercedes custom format scores. This means Sonarr will always prefer a higher quality release regardless of whether it's x265. A 1080p x264 release will always be chosen over a 720p x265 release, even if you've heavily weighted x265. Custom format scores only act as a tiebreaker when comparing releases of the same quality.

Create boosts to favor x265:

The hum of the server rack was the only heartbeat in Elias’s apartment. To anyone else, it was background noise, but to him, it was the sound of a perfectly curated digital library breathing.

Name your custom format something easily identifiable, such as x265 / HEVC . In the block, click Add Specification . Set the Type to Release Title (or Regular Expression ). sonarr prefer x265

If you want to fine-tune your x265 preferences, you can use more sophisticated regex patterns or combine conditions.

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