RARBG x265 files (often identified in MediaInfo as encoded by x265 3.x+ or similar) focus on maximizing the visual quality of H.265 at low bitrates. Their "better" approach relies on:
Higher values (2.0+) keep the film grain intact, preventing the "waxy" look. For Animation/Clean Digital Sources aq-mode=1:psy-rd=0.5:psy-rdoq=1.0:bframes=8
The x265 encoder has a "preset" slider ranging from ultrafast to veryslow .
: Closer to the original RARBG bitrate-to-quality ratio but more efficient. rarbg x265 encoding settings better
What type of are you encoding most? (Live-action movies, modern 4K HDR films, or 2D animation/Anime?)
To achieve "better" settings—meaning higher quality or more efficient compression than the standard RARBG releases—you can adjust several key parameters based on modern encoding standards. Key Encoding Settings for Better Quality
Targeting specific file sizes (e.g., ~1.5 GB to 2.5 GB for a 1080p feature film) that still delivered an excellent viewing experience on standard televisions. Optimal HandBrake Settings for RARBG-Style x265 RARBG x265 files (often identified in MediaInfo as
RARBG used Constant Rate Factor (CRF) to ensure consistent visual quality across different types of films (e.g., a slow drama vs. a fast-paced action movie). CRF 20 to 22 4K UHD Standard: CRF 22 to 24
grain (if the source is very noisy/detailed) or none (default) for cleaner, lower-bitrate results. Profile: main10 (required for 10-bit). Specialized x265 Params for Maximum Efficiency
Instead of targeting a specific bitrate (which wastes data on simple scenes and starves complex ones), they used CRF to maintain consistent quality. : Closer to the original RARBG bitrate-to-quality ratio
To surpass them, you should move away from their fixed-bitrate approach and embrace a workflow that preserves more detail while keeping the "small footprint" spirit alive. ⚙️ The "Better than RARBG" Encoding Blueprint
If you have a powerful multi-core CPU and time is not an obstacle (e.g., encoding your permanent media library), simply changing -preset slow to -preset slower will immediately yield a better result.
The default x265 deblocking filters can blur fine details, giving faces a plastic or "waxy" appearance. Setting this to -2 reduces the smoothing effect, preserving skin textures and background sharpness.
This is arguably the most important flag. It forces the encoder to use a 10-bit color depth. While your source might only be standard 8-bit SDR (Standard Dynamic Range), encoding in 10-bit offers a massive advantage: it virtually eliminates .