Bel Canto DAC 2 or Ikemi?

I haven't heard the two side by side but my sense is that the Ikemi is the better unit. Although Bel Canto has suggested that transports don't matter that much they DO make very audible differences through the DAC2. With a great transport and digital cable MAYBE the two are in the same class. I'm not knocking the DAC2 which I really like for the money.
I would suggest that you give a listen to the Ayre CX-7 which I bought in preference to the Ikemi. If the ARC unit you auditioned was the CD3 then I'm somewhat surprised that you preferred the Ikemi. I would also give a listen to the Audio Note and Wadia products before spending my money.

Thanks for your response!

While, I recognize that the CD3 had technically supperior performance (more dynamic range, more space, etc.), it didn't make me want to keep listening like the Ikemi did. It didn't get my heart pumping. Isn't that actually the most important factor?

Ayre doesn't have any dealers in New England, so that explains why I've never heard of them. Audio Note would be about a 2 hour drive, so I'm not sure I want to make the trip. Are they that exceptional? I don't know why Al didn't play be the Wadia. Only the 301 is in my "price range," so that might be why. I'll ask him to set it up for me.

Thanks!

Greenman I totally...............AGREE WITH YOU.......

Joyelyse, I'd make the drive to hear the Audio Note products.
They are non-oversampling, no digital filter, tube output designs and are widely praised for their musicality. Try to listen to the AN-CD3.1x CDP ($2650.00) and if you can possibly consider the financial stretch the AN-DAC2.1x Balanced ($4K).