Choosing something (? a receiver) to drive my NHT 2.5i speakers. Recommendations please.

I've had problems getting a receiver to work well with my NHT speakers. I have two 2.5i speakers and one AudioCenter 1 (details are here: http://www.nhthifi.com/Owners-Manuals ). I had them hooked up to an old Sony ES receiver (10 years ago, it was the top of the line Sony ES). That worked for a few years and then the heat/overload sensor in the receiver started tripping (even when the volume wasn't that loud), it became more frequent, and eventually the receiver stopped working and I was told it couldn't be repaired.

Next I tried to use a fairly cheap JVC receiver that someone gave me for free. It would run about 30 seconds before it tripped for an overload and shut down.

I'm now considering getting either this Yamaha HTR-4065 http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/htr/htr-4065/?mode=model#tab=product_lineup

or this Sony STR-DH720 http://store.sony.com/p/3D-A-V-reciever,-audio-video,-blu-ray/en/p/STRDH720#specifications

But I don't know if either of them will work well with my NHT 2.5is and AudioCenter 1.

Basically, I want something in the roughly $300 or under category and I don't need a ton of inputs, etc.

I use them almost exclusively for music from an iPod and audio from a TV. Maybe there is a different way to go than using a receiver?

Any suggestions?

Thank you,

Rick

I'm not sure how I test for a wiring issue. It seems worth looking into. I have a small volt meter, but I've never used it for anything like this.

Any other suggestions?

I'm not sure if the ones I've gotten so far consider the impedance of the NHT speakers (6 Ohms).
http://www.nhthifi.com/site/pdf/2.5iman.pdf

http://www.nhthifi.com/site/pdf/ac1manual.pdf

Does that affect the choice at all? I worry that had something to do with them tripping the receivers.

Thank you again for your help and suggestions (the preceding ones too).

Rick