General
ARTPICAL has built quite a name for itself in a very short time, and honestly, it's not hard to see why. Every product from them looks like it belongs in a display cabinet rather than in your ears. The Gabriel is no exception. Priced at $299, it sits as the step-up option in their archangel-themed lineup, wedged between the entry level Raphael and the flagship Michael.
The Gabriel houses a five-driver hybrid setup per side, 3 micro-planar drivers (MPD) and 2 balanced armatures (BA). Based on ARTPICAL's three-way design, two micro-planars take care of the low end, the dual BAs handle the midrange, and the last micro-planar is dedicated to the treble. Impedance is rated at 15Ω with a sensitivity of 107.2dB/mW, and frequency response is quoted at 5Hz – 20kHz. Take the 5Hz with a pinch of salt, but the numbers do tell you one thing: this is an easy set to drive.
Packaging
Packaging is straightforward. Inside you get the IEMs, a storage case, 12 pairs of silicone eartips, and a 1.2m silver-white stock cable with a 4-pin locking interchangeable plug system — 3.5mm single ended, 4.4mm balanced, and a USB-C plug with a built-in DAC. That USB-C plug is a thoughtful touch for people who just want to plug into their phone and go. It doesn't have the sense of ceremony you get from ARTPICAL's pricier sets, but everything you actually need is in the box.
Build & Design
And this is where Gabriel truly shines. The cavity is 16K high-precision resin printed with ARTPICAL's crystalline glaze colouring process, then wrapped by a gold aluminium alloy mid-frame that circles the entire shell, finished off with a stainless steel nozzle. The faceplate features layered white and gold feathers with a very strong three-dimensional effect. They almost look like they are floating above the shell. There's a small ring of gold at the centre with runes engraved around it, a nod to Gabriel as the divine messenger.
As with every other ARTPICAL IEM, it's a piece of art. Plain and simple. Even someone who has only been in the hobby for a year or two can tell whose product this is from across the room, and that kind of brand recognition is impressive for a brand this young.
Comfort
Despite the ornate look, the shell is not oversized. It sits comfortably in my ears for 2–3 hour sessions without any hot spots. I did not experience any driver flex, and pressure buildup is minimal thanks to the vented design. Fit and isolation are decent with the stock tips, though tip-rollers will want to experiment a little.
Gears Used for This Review
Aune S18 Evo DAC
Aune S17 Pro Amp
Burson Conductor Stellar
FiiO M33 R2R
xDuoo Link3
FiiO K17 R2R
Laiv Crescendo Verse
Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone's ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far.
Sound Impression
Out of the box, to my ears, the Gabriel was a little rough around the edges. The bass sounded slightly unrefined, a bit loose and less defined than I expected, and the treble had a touch of grain to it. So straight onto the burn-in rig it went, for approximately 50 hours. And the difference is noticeable. The bass tightened up and gained much better definition, while the treble settled down, sounding smoother and more refined. If you just unboxed yours, give it time before forming your opinion.
After burn-in, the Gabriel presents itself as a mild-V shaped IEM with a neutral tonality and a slight hint of warmth. It is fun and energetic, but never offensive or harsh. What strikes me most is the sense of space — the Gabriel has a very open and airy presentation for its asking price. It doesn't lean towards the overly clinical route either. I would call it funalytical, musicality comes first, with the technicalities following closely behind.
Bass
Quality is the key word here. The bass is fast, controlled and well-textured, with good energy behind every hit.
Sub-bass digs pretty deep and delivers a satisfying, organic rumble. Billie Eilish — Bad Guy has a good sense of depth and weight, with only a very slight roll off at the lowest end.
Mid-bass is punchy and quick. Kick drums have good impact and slam without overstaying their welcome.
Slipknot — Duality is a good speed test, and the dual micro-planars keep up with the double bass pedals without smearing. Each kick is distinct and clean.
Quantity is ample but not excessive. It gives the overall presentation a nice sense of authority without ever sounding bloated.
Most importantly, it doesn't bleed into the mids at all. Basslines stay clearly defined and separated from the rest of the mix.
Mids
Vocals sit very slightly behind the centre, but they are never recessed. Picture the artist as 4–5 steps in front of you, close enough to feel intimate but with enough room around them to breathe.
Tonality is neutral with a slight hint of warmth, giving vocals some richness and body without becoming thick or muddy.
Male vocals carry good body. Zhao Peng 赵鹏's low baritone comes through with a decent amount of chesty weight, which keeps lower-register vocals from sounding thin.
Female vocals are clear, full and smooth. Faye Wong 王菲's delicate textures are rendered with good clarity and her breathy passages sound natural, with no sibilance to speak of.
Instruments in the midrange are well separated with no congestion. Guitars, in particular, sound quite forward and vivid whether they are the lead or strumming in the background.
Pianos and strings have good note weight and natural timbre. Notes decay naturally, and small details like pedal movements and finger noises can be picked up quite easily.
Upper mids carry a bit more body, which grounds instruments and keeps the presentation from becoming shouty.
Treble
Treble is energetic, but non-offensive and never harsh. This is probably the best way to describe it.
After burn-in, it became noticeably smoother and more refined compared to the slightly grainy presentation out of the box.
Cymbals and hi-hats are positioned a little back with a slightly relaxed tonality. They have good presence without being splashy.
Upper frequency details are clearly there, from instrument overtones to quick arpeggios and chimes, but presented in a pleasing manner rather than being thrown at your face.
Extension is decent and airy. If I had to nitpick, the very top end sounds slightly artificial on some tracks, but this is purely me nitpicking.
Treble-sensitive listeners should be able to listen for hours without fatigue.
Soundstage / Imaging
This is the Gabriel's party trick. The soundstage is wide, but it's the depth and height that really stand out for this price point.
Front-to-back depth is impressive. The music sounds properly out of head, and the ceiling height is obvious enough that other sets sound a little flat when you switch back.
YungBlud — Zombie (Live from Bludfest) gives a convincing hall like effect, with the crowd surrounding you while YungBlud stays clearly in front.
Imaging is accurate with good layering. The spaces between instruments are generous, so even busy passages never sound congested.
Hans Zimmer — Why So Serious is handled well. The low drones, string layers and percussive hits are easy to pick apart, and the dynamic swings come through with good impact.
Detail retrieval feels effortless rather than forced. Micro details are present without the Gabriel ever sounding analytical.
Driveability
ARTPICAL Mondrian: This is the pairing I keep going back to, and it elevates the fun to the next level. The Mondrian (ESS ES9281AC Pro) gives the Gabriel a more pronounced V-shaped presentation — the bass gains extra slam and energy, and the treble gets a bit more sparkle — yet the mids are not overly recessed. Vocals still sit nicely in the mix. Same brand, and it shows. They are tuned to complement each other.
FiiO M33 R2R: The R2R presentation adds a smoother, more organic touch to the Gabriel. Notes become a little thicker and more natural, masking the slight artificiality in the upper treble. Great for long listening sessions.
Aune S18 Evo + S17 Pro: The desktop stack pushes the staging further out and tightens the bass control even more. Separation improves and the background is pitch black. This is where the Gabriel shows its technical ceiling.
Laiv Crescendo Verse: A clean and transparent pairing. The Gabriel retains its natural tonality with good dynamics, nothing added and nothing taken away.
Stock USB-C plug: Surprisingly decent straight from the phone. It does lose some openness and bass control compared to a proper source, but for casual listening on the go, it does everything alright.
Comparison
ARTPICAL Gabriel vs Thieaudio Hype 4 MK2
Build-wise, the Gabriel wins easily. The Hype 4 MK2 is well-built and comfortable, but it simply can't compete with the Gabriel's artistic finish. Both offer good comfort, though the Gabriel's shell sits a bit lighter in my ears.
Bass: The Hype 4 MK2 has more bass quantity and a heavier, more physical slam. The Gabriel trades some of that quantity for speed and control, with cleaner texture and better separation from the mids.
Mids: The Gabriel's vocals are more open and natural, while the Hype 4 MK2 sounds warmer and slightly thicker, with vocals sitting a little further back.
Treble: The Gabriel has more air and better upper-frequency detail. The Hype 4 MK2 is smoother but a little more veiled.
Soundstage: The Gabriel runs circle around the Hype 4 MK2 in depth and height.
Verdict: If bass quantity is your top priority, the Hype 4 MK2 is the more satisfying basshead choice. But for a more balanced, spacious and refined listen, I would personally go for the Gabriel.
Final Thoughts
The ARTPICAL Gabriel is one of those sets that makes you stop and stare before you even put it in your ears. But what impressed me more is that ARTPICAL did not skimp on the sound to pay for the looks. Once it has had its time on the burn-in rig, the Gabriel delivers quality, energetic bass, a natural and well-bodied midrange, and treble that is lively without ever turning harsh. Add in staging that punches into a much higher price bracket, and you have a very complete package for the asking price.
It isn't perfect. The packaging is basic for a $299 set, and the very top end could be slightly more natural, but these are minor points. And if you happen to own the Mondrian, or are thinking about getting one, the pairing is simply too much fun to ignore.
Recommended? Yes! Definitely!
The ARTPICAL Gabriel was sent over by ARTPICAL for the purpose of this review. Big thanks to the ARTPICAL team for the support and opportunity as always.
Head over to their store if you are interested in getting a pair:
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