I have an SME 10 with SME V arm and AirTight PC-1 cartridge. This combo has a low noise floor (I don't know what Blackest soundstage means) and very good imaging. My system is anything but "dead and uninvolving". I don't know how much to attribute to the turntable as I have never inserted other tables into my system and am not able to isolate what the SME 10 is doing to the overall sound. I'm considering upgrading to a better SME table as I have read the 20/3 and 30 have more bass extension and even blacker backgrounds. They also have better isolation.
My suspicion is that an SME table is a good/excellent and neutral foundation for a front end. If one hears something else, it is in the arm/cartridge/tonearm cable or something further up the chain.
Unfortunately, SME is very expensive in the US. I read that the factory has no trouble selling all of it considerable output, so many music lovers are indeed saying "TO SME".