I don't have the receiver or speakers yet (they are being shipped) so I can't quite get a good visual on how this is all going to work.

Receiver: HK-247
TV: Panasonic Plasma
Speakers: Bic Venturi towers, Bic Venturi Center
Subwoofer: elemental designs A2-300
Playstation 3
Direct TV HD DVR box

Looks like I need 14AWG speaker wire. Is that correct? Do I need plugs on the end or just straight stripped wire from receiver to speaker?

PS3 and Plasma should simply be HDMI only? Same with the Direct TV HD box?

No how to hook up the subwoofer.

Sorry for asking a common question but none of these things are going to arrive before next week and I wanted to order everything from monoprice so I am ready.

Assuming the HK-247 can process audio from HDMI...

1. Connect HD-DVR and PS3 to HK247 with HDMI. Run HDMI from HK247 to plasma.
2. 14-gauge should be fine at any kind of reasonable speaker length.
3. Sub should be single rca cord from HK247 to sub. No, you don't need to buy a "subwoofer" cable.

If your HK247 cannot process audio over HDMI, you should then run HDMI from HD-DVR and PS3 straight to display and run optical digital audio cables from those devices to the HK247.