A method for decoding image content from an encoded bitstream including a plurality of blocks includes: dividing a block including one or more components of the image content into N single samples and M sample groups corresponding to one of the components, where N and M are greater than or equal to one; decoding each of the N single samples using a symbol variable length code to generate one or more decoded single samples; decoding each of the M sample groups using a common prefix entropy code to generate one or more decoded sample groups, each of the M sample groups including a variable length prefix and one or more fixed length suffixes representing a plurality of samples; concatenating the decoded single samples and the decoded sample groups into a block of residuals; and reconstructing image content based on previously reconstructed neighboring blocks and the block of residuals.