It may be, though there are many other possible causes.
With regard to S2P and cartridge alignment, my broadest experience is with a TriPlanar VII tonearm using:
1. a universal protractor that allows tolerably accurate Baerwald cartridge alignment even if S2P is off; and
2. a "Mint" arc protractor custom made for the tonearm; it only works if S2P is accurate and it allows extremely precise Baerwald alignment (orders of magnitude finer than the TTB).
The sound when aligned with the Mint is much less distorted and the vast majority of Mint owners report the same thing, with any tonearm, so there is something to it.
I gather there's some reason your tonearm isn't/can't be mounted at the design distance?
With regard to S2P and cartridge alignment, my broadest experience is with a TriPlanar VII tonearm using:
1. a universal protractor that allows tolerably accurate Baerwald cartridge alignment even if S2P is off; and
2. a "Mint" arc protractor custom made for the tonearm; it only works if S2P is accurate and it allows extremely precise Baerwald alignment (orders of magnitude finer than the TTB).
The sound when aligned with the Mint is much less distorted and the vast majority of Mint owners report the same thing, with any tonearm, so there is something to it.
I gather there's some reason your tonearm isn't/can't be mounted at the design distance?