...and couldn't get the armor rating over 96 after improvements with an ebony ingot.I smithed some dragon plate a few hrs ago and was able to get it up to 117. I used the same enchanted gear and even made some smith-fortifying potion. still couldn't break 100 for the Daedric. I didn't change any perk stones and I don't think I caught a disease.

What gives?

Do you have the Daedric Armor Perk?

A set of Daedric armor is 108 armor with no perks, improvements, or skill so I don't know how that is even possible.

Maybe he's just talking about the armor piece. Daedric armor is 49 armor, with 100 smithing, it goes to 69, then with 100% boost with a set of smithing enchanted armor it goes to 89. And more with smithing potion. Dragon plate armor is 46 base armor rating.

Maybe he's wondering why his dragon plate armor is better than his daedric armor. If that's the case, it's puzzling to me. Daedric should have slightly higher armor rating than dragon plate if manufactured and worn under the same condition.

Armor rating is strongly affected by Heavy-Armor skills and perks. Are they the same? There are enchantments that can affect heavy-armor skill.

Are you sure the strength of the fortify enchant potion is the same?

I just went to a Forge and (Smithing 100):
the Daedric body piece shows 65
the Dragonplate body piece shows 61

This is on my Light Armor chick so she has Heavy Armor skill of 19 with no perks. If OP comes back with more questions I can actually make the armor and improve it with my gear and potion of +120% to see what I get.

I was going to say Congrats, but I guess..sorry four your loss.