The subwoofer houses all the sockets: power input, input from the PC and the two outputs to the Böxchen. I don't know how it would work without this subwoofer. Sound: the two Böxchen sound very transparent and in the foreground, the subwoofer rather "inconspicuous", rounds off the sound picture in my opinion just right and wonderful also in the bass range. If you want to feel a rich bass, this is not what you get here. But when I "turn it up full" I have to close the door so as not to disturb the flatmates.... What I appreciate as a senior is Bluetooth: switching to my hearing aids :-)

Since the two small speakers only have one RCA plug, I don't know how else you would connect them. Also, the remote would probably not work without a sub.

From my point of view, yes.
That's why I have this system because it sounds better.