Video files consume the vast majority of home server storage. A typical 1080p bluray rip encoded in x264 might average 2.5 GB to 4 GB per episode. The same episode encoded in x265 with identical perceptual quality usually ranges between 1.2 GB and 1.8 GB. Over a library containing thousands of episodes, this 40% to 60% reduction translates directly into terabytes of reclaimed disk space, saving significant money on hard drives. 2. Bandwidth Efficiency for Remote Streaming
A common trap is Sonarr downloading an HDR file for your non-HDR TV, causing washed-out colors. A more advanced Custom Format can combine conditions: a positive match for x265 and a negative match for HDR , DV , or PQ , effectively creating a preference.
You can store almost twice as many episodes for the same disk space.
Check the box for if you want to exclude things, but leave it unchecked for this setup. Click Save . Step 2: Configure Your Quality Profiles to Use the Score sonarr prefer x265
Click or manually add a condition by clicking Add Condition . Select Release Title from the condition dropdown menu.
: High-definition 1080p files that might take up 2GB in x264 can often be compressed to under 800MB in x265.
: Assign a positive value (e.g., +100 ) to your x265 format. Video files consume the vast majority of home server storage
Now, because the qualities are viewed as equal, Sonarr will use your Custom Format scores (+100 for x265) as the primary deciding factor. Setting Size Limits to Filter Out Bloat
Tagging:
: Ultra-HD content natively relies on HEVC encoding. Over a library containing thousands of episodes, this
In the field, enter terms like x265 , h265 , and HEVC .
Sonarr prioritizes releases using a "Score." We will create a Custom Format that assigns positive points to x265, making it win against x264 releases of the same quality.