Why do the majority of AV amps still have a radio tuner?

[unfocused]

I was thinking of buying a new AV amp and was looking at the Yamaha DSP-AX863SE (now sadly discontinued)
I noticed that it did not have a radio tuner then realised that it really is a function that I do not use. (and I don’t want to pay for something I don’t use) If I do listen to radio it is through my freeview box, and I know Skyboxes have radio station as well. If an amp does include a tuner they hardly ever have DAB but always include AM band (which I haven't listened to since Radio 1 stopped broadcasting on Medium Wave!) and FM is suppose to switch off within the next few years anyway.
So I like to know:
Why do manufacturers continue to include tuners?
Won’t the sound of the amp be better without all the tuner stuff in the box as well?
Can anyone recommend an AV amps without a tuner below £1000?

 

[manicm]

The majority of AV receivers include radio tuners. I would certainly want it.

 

[Alantiggger]

You wouldn't want a tuner thrown-in because ???????????????

I love having the tuner on my amp... comes in real handy at times

 

[chebby]

+3 for built in tuner.

 

[Crossie]

I am with the OP, really don't need a tuner in the AV amps. Sky, Virgin and Broadband provide all the Radio I coluld possibly want from AV. Spend the saving on making a better amp.

 

[iMark]

I imagine because the makers believe AV receivers will replace existing gear. With a decent tuner thrown in a lot of people around the world can get rid of 2 boxes in their setup. It's much cheaper to build the same model (with just different voltages and plugs) for all markets and not many countries have the same situation as the UK with Freeview and DAB. I think FM and AM will be around in most countries for a very long time.

Here in NL DAB is dead in the water. Most people have cable TV which always comes with separate FM so being able to connect to the FM wall socket out of the box is really useful.

 

[chudleighpaul]

My amp has built in DAB. This is all the music I need. Superb!

 

[Timbot]

I can get radio through my freesat box. My receiver has a tuner built in but we have satelite as the area we are in has little or no TV or radio signal so there isn't much point. I think (and feel free to correct me if wrong) that the radio over satelite is higher bandwidth than both FM and DAB... Personally, I'd rather the money used to put a tuner in the receiver was used for better components instead.

 

[The_Lhc]

Timbot:Personally, I'd rather the money used to put a tuner in the receiver was used for better components instead.

I expect it costs all of about a dollar* to put a tuner in, it's pretty basic technology.

*This is a guess, it's probably more than that but not enough to be of any significance I'd suggest.
The other point of course is that without a tuner in it, it isn't a receiver, it's just an integrated amplifier.

 

[Anonymous]

the_lhc:

I expect it costs all of about a dollar* to put a tuner in, it's pretty basic technology.

Nope. It costs a fair bit more because thanks to HM Revenue & Customs, a product with a radio comes under a more expensive import duty. I think the main reason why AV receivers have a tuner is because the perception of a receiver is linked with the old amp+tuner definition and manufacturers are scared of losing a tickbox in reviews.

Now, AV processors don't always have tuners ...

 

[The_Lhc]

Hifi test monkey:
the_lhc:

I expect it costs all of about a dollar* to put a tuner in, it's pretty basic technology.

Nope. It costs a fair bit more because thanks to HM Revenue & Customs, a product with a radio comes under a more expensive import duty.

That doesn't make it more expensive for the manufacturer to buy the chipset and put it in the box, just means they have to charge a bit more if they sell it in this country, it won't affect the cost in any other country, unless they have a similar import duty.

I think the main reason why AV receivers have a tuner is because the perception of a receiver is linked with the old amp+tuner definition and manufacturers are scared of losing a tickbox in reviews.

Now, AV processors don't always have tuners ...

Neither do AV *amplifiers*, of which there are plenty on the market.