Sonarr Prefer X265 «Validated – COLLECTION»

Create two Sonarr instances – one for x264 (remote users) and one for x265 (local 4K library).

Sonarr prioritizes "Quality" (e.g., Bluray-1080p vs. WEBDL-1080p) over Custom Format scores by default. If a high-quality x264 file is found, it may be picked over a lower-quality x265 file unless scores are high enough.

To make Sonarr prefer content, you must configure Custom Formats (v4) or Release Profiles (v3) to assign positive scores to releases containing x265-related keywords . This tells Sonarr that while a 1080p x264 and a 1080p x265 file are the same "Quality," the x265 version is preferred due to its higher score. Setting Up Preferences in Sonarr v4

: Smaller files download faster and require less streaming bandwidth, making remote streaming smoother. sonarr prefer x265

Example profile named "Prefer x265":

This ensures you don't just get the smallest file, but the best-optimized file from a reputable encoder. Summary Testing

Notes:

In the world of automated media management, Sonarr is the undisputed king for TV show acquisition. But beneath its sleek interface lies a critical, often misunderstood setting: the preference for (also known as HEVC) over the long-reigning champion, x264 (H.264).

Go to Settings > Custom Formats . Create a Format for x265: Add a new format and name it "x265/HEVC".

As always, use Sonarr's feature for a series to test your configuration. This will show you which releases Sonarr would choose and why, helping you verify that your x265 preferences are being applied as intended before any files are downloaded. Create two Sonarr instances – one for x264

Click on the profile you use for your television shows (e.g., HD-1080p or Any ).

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What if no x265 release is available? We don't want Sonarr to get stuck. If a high-quality x264 file is found, it