Yes, you can use cabled audio connection instead of Bluetooth on the N60NC Wireless, if you prefer. You can listen to a cabled source even if the battery is empty, but the noise cancelling function will of course not be available in this case. If the battery is charged, you can switch noise cancellation on or off at will. You do not have to have a cable connected at all. You can use the headphones as noise cancellers just by putting them on, and switching NC on.