: Use the Slow or Slower preset. This takes much longer but allows the algorithm more time to compress the video without losing detail.
Users also warn about the compatibility trade-off that comes with the newest formats.
“I find that X265 can fall apart a little bit during dark scenes unless you increase the file size. I'd also like to mention that if you choose to go AV1 although Plex supports it there are many clients... that don't.” Reddit · r/handbrake · 6 months ago reddit-x265-movies
: Favored by power users who want deep control over every advanced x265 parameter.
: Even for 8-bit source material, encoding in x265 10-bit is a common community recommendation to reduce "banding" (ugly color gradients) in dark scenes. Community-Recommended "Gold Standard" Settings : Use the Slow or Slower preset
The main "story" on subreddits like r/Handbrake and r/Piracy is the massive space savings x265 offers over its predecessor, x264.
For those looking to start their own collection, the community frequently points toward specific open-source tools: “I find that X265 can fall apart a
: While highly effective for 1080p, x265 truly shines with 4K (2160p) content , where the efficiency gains are most noticeable compared to older formats.