Temple of Divine Mother
This report details the methodology for configuring Sonarr (v3 and v4) to prioritize the x265 codec (HEVC) over the legacy x264 codec (AVC). While x264 remains the standard for broad compatibility, x265 offers significant advantages in storage efficiency and quality retention at lower bitrates.
High-quality 2160p (4K) content and 1080p high-dynamic-range (HDR) files are universally released using the HEVC codec. The Drawbacks
For the most optimized setup, many users sync their profiles with the TRaSH Guides , which provides pre-built Custom Format JSONs you can import directly to get professional-grade filtering.
October 26, 2023 Prepared For: Media Server Administrators / Home Lab Enthusiasts Topic: Release Profile Optimization for HEVC/H.265
Once the format is created, you must give it a "score" so Sonarr knows to prioritize it over other releases of the same quality (e.g., preferring a 1080p x265 over a 1080p x264).