VPI Classic platter - is center milled?

I have the new Classic Ceramic coated platter. It does indeed have a shallow label sized indentation on it. The platter is totally flat, except for this depression.

I have found that the rubber mat does nothing for the sound. I use the one piece clamp, but found that it does not work properly with the mat. Without the mat the record edge tends to rise a bit when the clam is applied. Makes sense since the clamp is pushing the center of the record down into the shallow depression.

Best for me is to use the rubber washer and put the clamp on lightly (not too tight).

Mine is also the ceramic coated one....in case you're wondering, the ceramic coated and without the coating sounds the same, however, the ceramic coating eliminates the fingerprints and looks better. I don't use a washer, just the anti-static mat which sounds the same as the static one,..and use the periphery ring, and the center weight.

I do believe that the classic platters definitely benefit from the periphery ring. I don't have one, but it is obvious to me that the record would lay flatter on the platter with that ring on it.

Stringreen ... is there more to VPI's changes to the Classic (i.e., moving the motor left and rear, and prettying-up the button) than aesthetics? Another change is the Classic 3 black shrink tube on the wand. Wonder if that does anything, other than look good.

VPI is always experimenting...and I applaud that. Black shrink wrap eliminates some undesirable resonance that may be present in a particular cartridge and is transferred down the tube...minimal sound difference if any...