x264 vs 265 question (4/3/2016)

[nixiejames]

i've done some tests using crf and 2-pass bitrate mode.

using crf, x264 bests x265 in terms of quality since x265 still blurs/ignores fine details no matter how low the value is for crf (x264 crf18 > x265 crf18).

using 2-pass bitrate mode however, x265 outshines in the 1-2 mbps bitrate region. if i go higher than that, i can't tell the difference.

i mostly use 2-pass bitrate since i do bluray backups using dvd-r's. i've been comparing their log files and i noticed the qp of x265 is always lower than the qp of x264 at same bitrates. in theory, is the qp standard of x264 the same as x265's?

maybe slightly off-topic question since i don't want to post too many threads: i know there are players that can play h.264 mkv data discs. are there players that can play h.265 mkv data discs? and if there are, can they play cropped videos in their true aspect ratio, meaning not stretched?

[KarMa]

For x265 I use "--tune grain" to stop the blurring. But it makes the files bigger.

I know of no disc player that can play H.265. But there are plenty of Android based media players out there, that play off a USB stick or your network.

[nixiejames]

i think tune grain just controls the retention of grain and not necessarily the fine details you find in facial features, grass, water, etc. maybe to a certain extent but not directly

[sneaker]

Samsung UBD-K8500 should be able to play HEVC in mkv from discs. This probably applies to other UltraHD BluRay players as well but they are still expensive seeing how new the format is. If USB or LAN instead of optical discs are fine you should be able to get much cheaper players.

using crf, x264 bests x265 in terms of quality since x265 still blurs/ignores fine details no matter how low the value is for crf (x264 crf18 > x265 crf18).

using 2-pass bitrate mode however, x265 outshines in the 1-2 mbps bitrate region.

The difference is not because of CRF vs 2pass but because of the achieved bitrate region. If you increased CRF enough to get into the 1-2 mbps region you'd see the same advantage for x265.

[SameSelf]

For x265 I use "--tune grain" to stop the blurring. But it makes the files bigger.

I know of no disc player that can play H.265. But there are plenty of Android based media players out there, that play off a USB stick or your network.

The current crop of 4K TVs also come equipped with a HEVC decoder.

[KarMa]

The current crop of 4K TVs also come equipped with a HEVC decoder.

Also now that I think about it. The UHD Bluray players decode HEVC. But I don't know what kind of profiles they would support on non-official UHD Bluray discs, like a normal HD Bluray disc, a DVD-R, or a USB Stick.

[sneaker]

According to Samsung the UBD-K8500 plays main, main10 and main4:2:2 10 profile at 4kp60.