I converted a video using Handbrake from MPEG2 576p shown in Plex as 720x576 and pixel aspect ratio of 64:45
In Handbrake, on loading the video, the picture info showed as 720x554. Using a HB preset of 576p I converted the video and it now shows in Plex as 480p with the height/width.
What does it mean that it’s showing 480p, not 576p?
544 is under the threshold Plex decided below which is no longer 576p.
For instance, when I get a bonehead encode here that’s 404 in vertical resolution Plex calls it SD (probably correctly). If I get another bonehead encode that’s 504 in vertical resolution Plex calls it 576. Plex also looks at embedded aspect rez tags, storage width, etc. In short if you don’t encode exactly right Plex could call it anything.
Here’s my Handbrake Guide for Plex that covers DVD anamorphic settings and Direct Play tactics as well as BluRay rips from MakeMKV dumps:
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1335697/#Comment_1335697
There is some interesting reading in those pages.
Depending on which version you’re using this may be impossible (I highly recommend 0.10.5 until HB gets their s*&t together on the Windows Version), but…
You should start with the ‘High’ profile down there in legacy if you’re using that new abomination, make some adjustments as per my guide and then save it as a user preset - you’ll be tweeking it for a while as you learn things.
If HB saw it as 720x576 that’s the full storage dimensions that can go on a DVD in PAL territory. Use Custom Anamorphic and set the Display Width to 1024 (if you can). 1024x576 is a 16:9 image on a PAL system widescreen TV. 1024x576 won’t fit on a DVD so Anamorphic tricks out the 720x576 video in storage so it’ll blossom into it’s full resolution of 1024x576 when it’s played back. For me here in NTSC country storage is 720x480. A full blown 16:9 for me is 854x480 so I put 854 in the Custom Anamorphic Width area. If my DVD material is 4:3 I put 640 in the Custom Width. I don’t know offhand what you’d use for 4:3.
It’s been going on this way for decades and will likely continue for decades.
If you’re on that New Windows Version - good luck. You have to encode at 1024x576 to get a 16:9 image and that may freak Plex out to the point it’ll call it 720p. It’s hard to say until you try it. I don’t think you can use Custom Anamophic in the new windows version of HB so that’s what you’re stuck with. I’d really back up versions to 0.10.5. I can’t stress that enough.
If you do that you’ll gain a wealth of information from my guide. I wrote it for use with 0.10.5.
Let us know what you come up with.
Ha ha, thanks at lot for that - my head has been hurting all day trying to get it around the video stuff including anamorphic settings. You have just taken that pain to a new level 
I did upgrade to the latest 1.0.2 version, but I’ll read your link and play some more with that High profile.
