Sonarr Prefer X265
| Device | x265 playback | Notes | |---------------------------|---------------|-------| | PC (VLC, MPV, MPC-HC) | ✅ Perfect | Software decode works fine | | NVIDIA Shield / Apple TV | ✅ Perfect | Hardware decode | | Plex / Jellyfin direct stream | ✅ | Works if client supports HEVC | | Plex / Jellyfin | ⚠️ Heavy | CPU transcoding x265 → h264 is very slow | | Old laptop (pre-2015) | ❌ Stutters | No hardware decode | | Roku / Fire Stick (basic) | ⚠️ Some work | Newer models OK | | Browser (Chrome/Safari) | ⚠️ Partial | Safari good; Chrome needs GPU support |
The x265 ecosystem contains variations in release quality. Because x265 can shrink low-quality sources into tiny files, some release groups upload heavily compressed, washed-out media. You can refine your Custom Formats or Release Profiles to filter out these files. 1. Filter by Release Groups
If you are using or looking for specific JSON codes, it is highly recommended to follow the guides on ElfHosted or TRaSH Guides for the most up-to-date configuration templates. If you're interested, I can: sonarr prefer x265
The community gold standard for these settings is Trash Guides. They provide pre-made JSON snippets you can import to: Prefer specific high-quality encoders (like or Tigole ). Avoid "fake" or low-quality HEVC releases.
, the brain of his operation. The interface glowed blue in the dark room. | Device | x265 playback | Notes |
"Librarian OCD – I have both versions."
Optimizing Sonarr for x265 / HEVC: The Ultimate Automation Guide They provide pre-made JSON snippets you can import
Sonarr adds up all the scores. A release tagged x265 gets +100. A release tagged x264 gets 0. An x265 release with DTS-HD (which you might score at +50) gets 150.
Click to store your new Custom Format.
Let’s look at actual savings. A standard 1080p x264 episode of Game of Thrones runs approximately 4GB. The same episode in x265 (1080p) runs 1.5GB.
Paste the following Regular Expression (RegEx) into the text box: \b([hx].?265|hevc)\b Use code with caution. Click . Step 2: Update Your Quality Profiles Navigate to Settings > Profiles .