Be aware of a reference to another reference. It is probably bad practice to even do that.

<?php
    class Obj1 { public $name = 'Obj1'; }
    class Obj2 { public $name = 'Obj2'; }

    $objects = [];
    $toLoad = [ 'Obj1', 'Obj2' ];

    foreach( $toLoad as $i => $obj )
    {
        $ref = new $obj();
        $objects[$i] =& $ref; // a reference to a reference
        // $objects[$i] = $ref; // that would work
    }

    echo $objects[0]->name;
        // outputs 'Obj2' !
?>