Rarbg X265 Encoding Settings May 2026

HandBrakeCLI -i source.mkv -o output.mkv \
--encoder x265_10bit \
--quality 19 --encoder-preset medium \
--encopts "aq-mode=3:aq-strength=1.0:no-sao=1:deblock=-2,-2:limit-sao=1:rskip=2:psy-rd=1.0:psy-rdoq=4.0" \
--aencoder av_aac --ab 384 --mixdown 5point1 \
--comb-detect --decomb \
--no-dvd-subtitles

RARBG encodes for a broad audience: they want excellent quality for typical consumer setups, file sizes that fit common storage/download constraints, and practical encode times for batch releases. Their x265 presets and flags reflect a middle ground—leaning toward higher quality without exploding file size or encode time.

RARBG x265 releases were not designed to be transparent to the source (matching the Blu-ray perfectly) nor were they "mini-encodes" (aggressively shrinking files to 500MB). Instead, they targeted the "Golden Middle":

If you were a movie buff or a data hoarder between 2014 and 2023, you knew the name RARBG. Before its untimely shutdown in 2023, RARBG was the gold standard for scene releases. While other groups focused on raw file size, RARBG focused on the magic of compression. Rarbg X265 Encoding Settings

Specifically, their x265 (HEVC) releases became the benchmark for quality-to-size ratio.

But what was actually happening under the hood? Now that the site is gone, let’s reverse-engineer the settings that made a 1.5GB RARBG rip look better than a 4GB release from competitors. HandBrakeCLI -i source

RARBG didn't use a strict bitrate target; they used CRF. However, based on release logs, here is the predictable output they achieved:

| Source Resolution | Source Type | CRF Value | Average Bitrate (Typical) | File Size (90-min film) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 2160p (4K) HDR | Movie | 18 | 8-12 Mbps | 8-12 GB | | 1080p | Movie (Clean) | 19 | 3,500 - 5,000 kbps | 2.5 - 3.5 GB | | 1080p | Movie (Grainy) | 20 | 6,000 - 8,000 kbps | 4 - 6 GB | | 720p | Movie | 21 | 1,500 - 2,500 kbps | 1.2 - 1.8 GB | | 1080p | Anime | 18 | 2,500 - 3,500 kbps | 1.8 - 2.5 GB | RARBG encodes for a broad audience: they want

Key insight: Notice that grainy 1080p movies often landed at a higher bitrate than clean 4K streams. RARBG prioritized allocating bits where needed.

Adaptive Quantization mode 3 (Auto-Variance) is aggressive. It dedicates more bits to dark, complex scenes. Most encoders use mode 2. RARBG used mode 3 to ensure that dark scenes in The Batman or Game of Thrones didn't turn into a pixelated mess.

| Goal | Preset | CRF (x265) | Profile | Tune | |---|---:|---:|---|---| | Archival / Best quality | veryslow | 18–20 | main10 (4K/HDR) / main (8-bit) | film/grain | | Balanced / Everyday | slow | 20–22 | main10/main | film/animation | | Fast / Small | medium | 22–24 | main | none/animation |